GILGIT: The Parliamentary Committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has said it will recommend allocation of 250 million US dollars for socioeconomic development of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Addressing a regional dialogue on `The Role of Parliament in Promoting Trade, Agriculture and Tourism under CPEC, Gilgit-Baltistan` here on Friday, Sher Ali Arbab, chairman of Parliamentary Committee on CPEC, said GB, AJK and Balochistan people had reservations over their share in the project.

He said the parliamentary committee members were visiting all the regions of the country to remove the people`s grievances and resolution of their issues.

He said out of one billion dollars facility given by China for socioeconomic development of Pakistan under CPEC, 250 million dollars should be allocated for GB people`s welfare.

Mr Arbab said a national conference would be convened in Islamabad in December to address reservations of all regions of the country regarding share in CPEC.

All the stakeholders, including representatives from GB, would be invited to the conference, he announced.

On the occasion, Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Khan said GB people had been frustrated for not being given representation in the CPEC forums.

`In past GB couldn`t get due share in power projects under CPEC due to absence of connectivity with the national grid,` he said.

The CM said first time the federal government was taking serious steps to remove reservations of GB people as important projects had been approved for GB under CPEC.

`GB region will have better connectivity with rest of the country after construction of Ghizer-Shandur Road, Thakot to Raikot motorway, Shontor tunnel, and a new road from Skardu to Islamabad,` he added.

Speaking through video link, Mr Nong Rong, the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, congratulated GB chief minister and his government for organising the event.

He said GB chief minister and his government had great passion and devotion for CPEC. He said the multibillion dollar project would provide high quality development in Pakistan.

Members of parliamentary committee, including Noor Alam Khan, Sadagat Ali Abbasi, Nafeesa Inayatullah Khan Khattak, Murtaza Javed Abbasi, Shahzad Waseem, GB ministers Kazim Mesam, Nasir Ali Khan, opposition parties members Ghulam Mohammad, Rehmat Khalig, Anwarullah, Jochen Hippler, the country director Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, GB chief secretary and members of civil society and trade organisations participated.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2021