ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Friday hailed the support the Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts had been extending to the civil administration in maintaining peace in the region.

GB Scouts are showing extraordinary bravery to protect the northern borders of Pakistan, the minister said during his visit to the GB Scouts headquarters.

The force’s director general Ziaur Rehman briefed the minister on the role of various wings of the organisation.

Sheikh Rashid said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government had taken concrete steps to bring GB to the mainstream.

The construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam, he said, would change the fate of the GB people as it would not only create employment opportunities for the locals but help meet the country’s energy requirements at affordable rates.

Earlier, the minister laid floral wreath on the Martyrs Memorial after receiving a guard of honour by a contingent of the GB Scouts.

The interior minister arrived in Gilgit on a two-day visit to the region. He was received at the airport by the GB Scouts director general and senior officials of the district administration.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2021