GILGIT: The members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly’s standing committee on interior have showed concern over reports of harassment of foreign tourists at the security check points in the region.

Speaking at a meeting of the body here the other day, they pointed out that foreign tourists were facing difficulties when they entered the region, according to a press release.

Committee chairman Kacho Imtiaz presided over the meeting, while lawmakers Shireen Akhtar, Javed Hussain, GB home secretary Jawad Akram and representative of GB police were also in attendance.

The members said owing to unnecessary checks at the security points, foreign tourists were reluctant to visit the region, which was not a good omen for the country at the global level. Interior secretary Jawad Akram informed the meeting that steps were being taken to facilitate foreign tourists coming to GB.

He said computerised cards would be provided to foreigners on their arrival at Gilgit and Skardu airports so that they did not have to go through security checks at every checkpost.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2018