SKARDU, Sept 27: The federal government is working on a comprehensive package for the solution of Northern Areas’ constitutional and political problems.

This was stated by chief secretary Northern Areas Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad while talking to a delegation of Pakistan People's Party led by district general secretary of the party Numberdar Yousuf here.

He said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani would soon visit the region and unveil the package. He said steps were being taken to eliminate unemployment in the region, adding Karakoram University campus would be set up in Skardu and financial assistance would be provided to the students. To meet the persistent water crisis in Skardu, a project has also been included in the Annual Development Programme, he added.

He said wheat quota of the two districts of Baltistan would be stocked at Skardu, so that it could be distributed promptly during wheat crisis in the far-flung valleys.

Nominated for award: Social, literary organisations and public figures have congratulated local journalist Khwaja Mohammad Qasim Naseem on his nomination for the presidential award. Naseem is author of several books and the president of the local press club. He is also the chief editor of a weekly newspaper. He has been writing columns about various issues of Gilgit-Baltistan in different national dailies for the last several years.