GB to be developed under CPEC, govt plans: Pakistani Economic Affairs Minister tells Gilgit Baltistan CM
Gwadar Pro
Islamabad: Pakistani Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Omar Ayub Khan has assured Gilgit Baltistan Chief Minister Khalid Khursheed Khan that the GB will be developed on par with the major Pakistani regions under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Pakistani government’s development plans.
CM Khan called on Omar Ayub Khan at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and sought funds for the socioeconomic development of the area.
The two leaders also discussed priority areas and ongoing development initiatives in GB, said an official statement.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister briefed Omar Ayub Khan on various initiatives taken by the GB government and their future development needs and priority areas.
During the meeting, it was agreed to establish a state-of-the-art technical training university in Gilgit-Baltistan. The development of technical skills can contribute to structural transformation and economic growth by enhancing employability, competitiveness and labour.
In this regard, the Economic Affairs Division will explore foreign technical and financial support, whereas the government of Gilgit-Baltistan will provide around 800 to 1,000 kanal (one kanal is equal to 5,400 square feet) land for the construction of the university.
The government of Gilgit-Baltistan also requested for upgradation of infrastructure in road and health sectors, improvement in power generation, transmission and distribution system, expansion of health facilities and the capacity-building of the public sector, especially in governance, finance and revenue, local government, public health, police and disaster management.
It was also discussed to develop an alternative road network for connectivity between Punjab and GB through Azad Jammu and Kashmir, which will not only reduce the traveling time and distance significantly but also promote tourism and boost economic activities in the region.
On the invitation of the Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister, it was agreed that the minister will visit the area soon to discuss the development needs and priority areas in detail.
It was also decided that the Economic Affairs Division will hold a donors conference with bilateral and multilateral development partners at the beginning of the next year to explore foreign technical and financial assistance for Gilgit-Baltistan.
Omar Ayub Khan told the CM that CPEC development projects were equally distributed across Pakistan to benefit the people. He mentioned that apart from the development, CPEC was also providing jobs to scores of the people.
