'Govt accords highest priority to timely completion of development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan'

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Makhdoom khusro Bakhtiar on Monday said that the government accords highest priority to timely completion of ongoing development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Talking to Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Hafiz Hafeez ur Rehman who called on him here at Islamabad, the minister stated that the PTI-led government is committed to bring the region at par with other areas of the country in terms of socio-economic development.

Khusro Bakhtiar said that Gilgit-Baltistan would gain maximum benefit from the CPEC adding that the game changer project would not only usher in prosperity in the region but also lead to infrastructure development.

During the meeting, the minister apprised Gilgit-Baltistan CM about rationalization of Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) under which Rs15billion would be given to Gilgit-Baltistan for its development schemes for the ongoing financial year.

CM Gilgit-Baltistan thanked the federal government for approving Gilgit-Skardu road project adding that its completion would reduce the distance from nine hours to two hours.

He requested the federal government to consider sharing the cost of a sewerage treatment plant project in Gilgit which stood at Rs4billion as there was no proper sewerage system in the city.

The minister assured of cooperation in considering sharing the cost of the project owing to health hazards for the people of the area and directed the officials concerned to look into it in this regard.