SKARDU, Sept 29: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Chief Executive of Northern Areas, Faisal Saleh Hayat on Thursday said basic amenities of life would be provided to the people of Northern Areas through social and infrastructure development.
“In every district headquarters, sports grounds and public parks would be established for providing recreational facilities and promotion of healthy activities to the people of the area,” he said.
He was taking to a delegation of members of Northern Areas Legislative Council (NALC), and Municipal and District Councils at Khapulu in the district of Ghanche.
Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat said President General Pervez Musharraf was taking keen interest in the social, political and economic uplift of the people of Northern Areas.
He added that under a Rs500 million package announced by the President Musharraf for the Northern Areas, a number of projects had been initiated for providing basic amenities to the people and to improve their living and economic conditions.
He added that in the three big cities of Gilgit, Skardu and Chilas, the development and infrastructure projects had been launched and they would soon get facilities like sewerage system, construction of roads and potable water.
The minister said the government was focusing on the development of tourism in Northern Areas.
In this regard, he said, soon a special meeting would be held to formulate a comprehensive tourism development strategy in consultation with all stakeholders.
Mr Faisal said Northern Areas had great potential for tourism and called for tapping full potential for the socio-economic development of the country as well as people of Northern Areas.
The minister expressed his full satisfaction over the law and order situation in the area.
He added that the local administration in the two districts of Skardu and Ghanche were performing well.
He called upon the elected representatives of the area to play their role in the promotion of brotherhood, peace and harmony in Northern Areas.
Earlier, the Chairman of District Council Ghanche, Mohammad Ibrahim in his welcome address apprised the minister of the problems being faced by the district.—APP