GILGIT, June 13 The administration of the Northern Areas performed groundbreaking ceremony of the Bab-i-Gilgit here on Saturday.

Chief Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad said that the gate was a part of the beautification plan of the city. Force Commander Maj-Gen Muzamil Hussain was also present on the occasion.

The chief secretary said that the gate would also help authorities to monitor the law and order situation in the city. It would be linked electronically with Basari Checkpost in Diamer district, which is the entry point to Gilgit-Baltistan.

He said that over Rs13 million would be spent on the project. The federal government was increasing both development and non-development funds for the region, he said.

THREE KILLED An employee of Services Department of Northern Areas Secretariat was shot dead by unidentified person in the city, police said.

Anwar Jan was hit in the head and he succumbed to his injuries before he could be removed to DHQ hospital Gilgit. Police took several suspects into custody for interrogation after incident.

Meanwhile, two women were killed while nine others got injuries when a van collided with a truck on the outskirts of Gilgit city. —Correspondent