SKARDU, Nov 10 Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday promised free, fair and transparent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and a level playing field for all political parties.

Addressing a public meeting at the Police Ground, the prime minister said the region had a vast hydroelectric potential and development of the sector would help reduce poverty and unemployment.

Mr Gilani said that work on Diamer-Bhasha and Bunji dams would start soon, adding that over Rs5 billion would be spent on hydel projects in the region.

He said 200 schools had been made functional at a cost of Rs2 billion and Rs1 billion was being spent on making 100 dispensaries functional this year.

He said that Rs10 billion had been allocated for education and 33 buses had been given to various schools and colleges.

He advised the finance ministry to approve various projects in health and education sectors so that shortage of staff could be overcome.

Mr Gilani said that Chalat in Hunza-Nagar, Danyur in Gilgit and Phandar in Ghizer districts had been given the status of tehsil and urged the administration to put up files of Gultary, Kharmang and Shigar for their elevation to the level of districts.

He declared Gilgit and Skardu as 'major cities' and said that Skardu airport was being upgraded to an international one for developing tourism.

Mr Gilani said that 5,000 people would be recruited in Gilgit-Baltistan police force and their salary would be equal to that of Islamabad police. He said that equal number of recruitment would be made from each district.

Mr Gilani said people affected by earthquake in Kondos (Ghanche district) would be compensated.

The Benazir Income Support Programme is being expanded and a proposal is under consideration to enable it to cover health insurance, electricity bills and school fees. He also said that orphanages would be built in all districts.

He ordered the local administration to pay compensation to people dislocated by Satpara dam.

After the elections, Mr Gilani said, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan would have their own governor, chief minister and advisers. “They will have their own government which can make budget and undertake development schemes.”

Qamar Zaman Kaira, the region's governor, also addressed the gathering and said he hoped the people would support PPP candidates.

PPP's provincial president Syed Mehdi Shah welcomed the prime minister and called for the establishment of an engineering university in Baltistan.