GILGIT: The Senate standing committee on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan on Thursday assured the GB government that it would recommend ways and means to the federal government for the effective resolution of the problems of the region’s residents.

The committee met here in Skardu with its chairman, Senator Professor Sajid Mir, in the chair and members Haji Momin Khan Afridi, Najma Hameed, Hameed Hassan and Khalida Parveen in attendance. The committee members reached the city earlier in the day on a three-day visit.

GB senior minister Akbar Taban, GB Legislative Assembly members retired major Mohammad Amin and Kacho Imtiaz Haider, GB council member Wazir Ikhlaq, GB home secretary Bilal Ahmad Memon, GB water and power secretary Waqar Taj, Baltistan division commissioner Asim Ayub and other GB officials attended the meeting.

The relevant officials informed lawmakers about the ongoing development projects in the region.

The visitors reviewed the law and order situation, governance system, power generation, progress on Gilgit-Skardu road schemes and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project and tourism activities in GB.

The home secretary said GB was a peaceful region and therefore, it was a role model for other parts of the country.

He said if flights were operated from Islamabad to Gilgit and Skardu daily, the region’s tourism industry would boost.

GB secretary water and power Waqar Taj briefed the committee about hydropower generation in the region. He said GB had vast opportunities for hydropower generation at cheap rate.

He said former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had approved a summary regarding the construction of regional grid stations and execution of seven power projects in GB and if the current federal government acted accordingly, power crisis in the region would end.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2017