SKARDU, April 30: Solid steps are being taken to maintain the rule of law and provision of justice in the country. In the Northern Areas too the government is taking effective measures to strengthen the judiciary.

Chairman Senate Standing Committee for Defense Senator Nisar A. Memon expressed these views while addressing lawyers at the Skardu Bar Association here on Monday.

He said that the judiciary in the Northern Areas was being strengthened as compared to the past and added that further measures would be adopted to make the system more effective according to the recommendations of the lawyers.

He said that the people of Northern Areas had freed the region from the Dogra rule and annexed it to Pakistan unconditionally. The government is solving the issue of constitutional rights for the people of northern areas, he said.

Mr Memon said that the role of lawyers was admirable in promoting democracy and protecting the constitution of the country. He said that he was pleased to see a well-organized and active bar in Skardu.

He gave assurances that he would contact the concerned officials regarding the inclusion of the Shatung Nualah diversion project in the Sadpara dam project.

The senator said that the government was taking solid steps to ensure freedom of expression in the country.

Earlier, Skardu Bar Association president Wazir Shakeel Ahmed gave a briefing on the judicial system of the Northern Areas and apprised the audience of the problems in that area.

Later. Mr Memon laid the foundation stone of a building at the Government Boys High School here and unveiled the plaque.

He asked the students to concentrate on acquiring latest knowledge and skills. He said that Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had gifted this country to us and now it was the duty of students to defend it. He said that no nation could progress unless their children received education in modern fields.

He urged the students to enrol in science, technology, arts, medicine, engineering and nuclear fields.

Mr Memon asked Baltistan students to learn the Chinese language and bag job opportunities in China.

The senator also inaugurated a library at a girls’ college here.