By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Gulbar Khan on Monday discussed the development scheme issues with Caretaker Minister of Commerce and Interior Dr Gohar Ejaz.
Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan Gulbar Khan met with Caretaker Minister of Commerce and Interior Dr. Gohar Ejaz at his office and congratulated him for assuming the charge of caretaker Interior Minister. During meeting, the CM Gilgit-Baltistan discussed the issues relating to development schemes of Gilgit-Baltistan. Dr. Gohar Ejaz said that round-the-clock accessibility of ‘Khunjarab Pass’ is a golden opportunity for increasing exports. He said increasing exports and traffic flow to that part of the region would also open vast employment opportunities.
He said that trade centres would be established in Gilgit-Baltisan for marketing local goods. He said that government will jointly introduce the area of Gilgit-Baltistan to the international community so that its natural beauty could be exploited in a befitting manner.
“Gilgit-Baltistan has vast opportunities for exports of fruits and mineral resources especially precious stones, ” said Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan.
Meanwhile, Caretaker Minister for National Food Security and Research Dr Kausar Abdullah Malik Wednesday said the government would provide all possible support for the agricultural sector development in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). The soil of GB has unique potential for producing agriculture commodities and dry-fruits, he said in a meeting with the Chief Minister of Gilgit Baltistan Gulbar Khan on Wednesday.
Kausar Abdullah Malik said that the federal government was still supplying 100% local wheat to GB and local wheat will be supplied next year as well. He said that Pakistan Agricultural Research Council would be directed to form a team for further increasing the agricultural potential of Gilgit-Baltistan to attain self-sufficient in agriculture sector in future. He said that the Gilgit-Baltistan government should prepare a proposal regarding the supply and delivery of wheat for its convenience, which will be earnestly considered. On this occasion, Chief Minister Gulbar Khan thanked the federal government for the steps taken to resolve the wheat problems on priority basis.
Earlier, Caretaker Minister for Commerce and Interior Dr. Gohar Ejaz, on Monday, said that trade centers will be established in Gilgit-Baltsan for marketing of local goods.
He said this during a meeting with the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan Haji Gulbar Khan and discuss the trade potential of GB, said a press release issued here. Dr. Gohar said that Mineral exports can pave the way for the development of Gilgit-Baltistan. He said the development issues of the province were pertinent and the Year-round accessibility of Khunjarab Pass is a golden opportunity for exports. Increasing the exports of GB will increase the traffic and employment in the region, he added. In the meeting, CM GB said that the Federal and Provincial governments will introduce GB to the world to take full advantage of its natural beauty and bounty, and the province has vast opportunities for exports of fruits and mineral resources, especially precious stones.
