GILGIT: Both the opposition and treasury members in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly on Tuesday adopted a unanimous resolution demanding of the federal government to order construction of tunnels in difficult terrains on the Gilgit-Skardu Road to avoid frequent blockages of the artery due to landslides.

Speaker Amjad Ali Zabardast chaired the assembly session.

Pakistan Peoples Party member Mohammad Ismail from Ghanche district tabled the resolution.

The resolution pointed out that the federal government had allocated Rs33 billion for reconstruction of Gilgit-Skardu Road with the contract awarded to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO).

It said initially FWO had agreed to construct tunnels in the landslide and rockfall-prone areas to avoid frequent blockages of the road.

However, the organisation did not construct the proposed tunnels.

The resolution demanded of the federal government to bind FWO to ensure quality work and construction of eight tunnels at different points of the artery.

Through another unanimous resolution, the GB Assembly demanded extending the scope of the Zainab Alert, Recovery and Response Bill to the region to take timely action for the recovery of missing and abducted children.

The resolution was tabled by adviser on law Syed Sohail Abbas.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2022