GILGIT, July 1: The Northern Areas is being linked with the Central Asian Republics (CARs) through a road and a proposal to this effect has been approved.

This was stated by Northern Areas Legislative Council member and Vice-President of the Northern Areas Chamber Commerce and Industry Hafiz Hafizur Rahman while addressing a seminar on ‘trade initiatives from a human development perspective’ jointly organized by Northern Areas Chamber Commerce and Industry, ministry of commerce and UNDP.

He said that the proposed road would pass through the western Ghizer district and eventually Gilgit town would get the status of an international market.

NACCI president S. U. Baig said that they were providing facilities to small, medium and big traders.

The Northern Areas Chamber Commerce and Industry vice-president said that the future of the area was bright as it had land links with China, Afghanistan, India, Russia and the Central Asian Republics.

Mohammad Ahmed Khan of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the recommendations proposed by the Northern Areas Chamber Commerce and Industry to end the Dassu Tax had been forwarded to the federal government.