SKARDU, Feb 3: The people of Gilgit and Baltistan have got freedom from the Dogra rule by themselves and joined Pakistan. Thus, they deserve all rights what enjoyed by people living in other provinces.

These views were expressed by the Northern Areas’ adviser on information, water and power, lives stock, health, fisheries, food and agriculture, Sikandar Ali, while speaking at a press conference here on Friday.

He said that the present government is keen to provide all rights to the people of the Northern Areas by strengthening the present Northern Areas Legislative Council.

He said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would soon visit the Northern Areas and will announce a comprehensive uplift package for the region. Thus, the long standing sense of deprivation persist in the minds of the people of this area would be rewarded.

Mr Sikandar said several development programmes are under way in Baltistan and many uplift projects would soon be implemented which included, upgradation of the district headquarters hospital, Skardu, installation of landing instrument at Skardu airport to make it a latest one and establishment of Karakoram International University’s campus in Baltistan. Moreover, work on the multipurpose Sadpar Dam project, and construction of five bridges on the Skardu-Gilgit road was already underway.

After completion of these projects a new era of development would launched in Baltistan

To a question, Mr Sikandar said the protest demonstration launched by one of the office-bearers of the PML of Skardu district levelling corruption charges against executive engineers of B &R and Water and Power does not belong to the Muslim League party. But this can be an individual move, not on behalf of the PML.