GILGIT: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday announced a number of development schemes for Gilgit-Baltistan including establishment of a cardiac center and a special police force.
The premier made the announcement while addressing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party workers in Gilgit on Friday. It was his first visit to Gilgit since he assumed the office of prime minister.
The prime minister said that a cardiac center will be established in Gilgit so that the heart patients do not go to Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for treatment. He also announced establishment of a special police force for the area saying it will be equipped with latest weapons and equipment in order to deal with security issues in the area.
The federal government is in the process of purchasing new aircraft for Pakistan International Airlines and with the procurement of these aircraft‚ the service of PIA to Skardu and Gilgit will be improved, the prime minister said.
Sharif said that focus is being given to the development of Gilgit-Baltistan and soon this area will be bracketed among the developed areas of the country. He said good governance and transparency will be ensured in the development schemes.
Referring to economic trade corridor from Kashgar to Gwadar‚ Sharif said that this project will benefit Gilgit-Baltistan the most as compared to other parts of the country.
This project comprising of motorway type road and railway line‚ will enhance exports of Gilgit-Baltistan’s local products including fruits and vegetables. It will pave way for establishment of more industries in the area and thus help generate employment opportunities.
The prime minister said that work on Diamer Basha and Dasu dams will immediately be started while work on Bunji dam will also be started soon. These projects‚ he said‚ will produce over 15 thousand megawatt of electricity.
Moreover, the prime minister said that a hundred billion rupees have been allocated for the Youth Business Loans scheme.
Sharif said that the youth of Gilgit-Baltistan between the ages of 21 and 45 can utilize this scheme. He said that the maximum amount of money that will be given out as a loan is two million.
The premier said that loans will be given to anyone who is committed to doing business, adding that literacy and experience does not matter with regards to the loans.
The prime minister giving more details about the scheme said that the loan can be returned in installments over a period of eight years and no installments would need to be paid in the first year.
Earlier‚ the prime minister inaugurated the new terminal building of the Gilgit airport, designed to handle the extended capacity of the passengers.
