Nov 25 , 2015
News
PML-N believes in serving people by rising above party politics: PM
* Nawaz says those who claimed to be people’s well-wishers were creating hurdles in country’s development
APPJHANG/GILGIT: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that his party, PML-N, believes in serving the people by rising above party politics.
Nawaz announced initiation of expansion and construction of a high quality road from Skardu to Gilgit, at a cost of Rs 50 billion. The prime minister was addressing a gathering after witnessing the oath-taking ceremony of the fifth governor of Gilgit Baltistan, Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan at the Chinar Bagh. He assured full support of the federal government for the uplift of the area. He said the Skardu-Gilgit road would eventually connect to the Expressway in Havelian and usher in an era of prosperity in one of the remotest parts of the country.
Nawaz says those who claimed to be people’s well-wishers were in fact creating hurdles in the country’s development. He said the China Pakistan Economic Corridor would cater to transit traffic from the Central Asian Republics, generate employment and economic activity. The road linkage would serve the most function of bringing the people of Pakistan closer, and their hearts would beat in unison, he said while directing a feasibility report for the expansion of the airport to cater to larger aircraft in all weather.
He said that his government was fully focussed on power generation and said a 27MW hydropower station would be constructed for Gilgit. The prime minister said the government looks forward to generation of around 15,000MW of electricity through Diamir Bhasha, Dasu and Bunji dams. Nawaz Sharif said there was a vast potential for development of tourism in the area and said only this industry would bring in a sea change in the economic conditions of the local people.
He recalled reports of an influx of tourists in the area that overwhelmed the existing hotel facilities and asked the governor to play his part in planning tourist facilities in the area, and set up camps for tourists at scenic places. The prime minister directed the government of Gilgit-Baltistan to ensure protection of environment, with the increase in number of visitors from other areas of the country. He recalled that Rs 27 billion would be spent on the completion of Lowari Tunnel in Chitral by next year. The federal government, he added, would spend Rs 50 billion on various communication projects in Chitral and other areas.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk