ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Wednesday said that construction of proper communication system and other necessary infrastructure in Gilgit Baltistan was important to ensure sustainable development of the area.
“The construction of communication system and other necessary infrastructure can further promote the tourism sector of Gilgit-Baltistan and create opportunities for economic development in the region,” the prime minister said while talking to a 17-member delegation of Royal Foundation of Gilgit Baltistan headed by Raja Nazim ul Amin. Prime Minister Kakar said Gilgit Baltistan was rich in natural resources and the people of the area were very hospitable.
He said maintained that a positive trend in tourism had been witnessed in the area after upgrading of the Skardu airport to the international airport.
He said a number of countries were showing keen interest to collaborate with Pakistan in the tourism sector.
The prime minister directed the concerned authorities to devise a strategy to find out a sustainable solution to the issue of electricity in Gilgit Baltistan. The prime minister also directed the authorities to devise a plan to increase the quota of GB students in the higher education and technical education sectors of all provinces of the country.
He said overall development of Gilgit Baltistan depended upon the social integration across the area.
He also appreciated the services of Royal Foundation of Gilgit Baltistan in various sectors in the area.
The delegation presented proposals to the prime minister to improve the working of various sectors of Gilgit Baltistan.
The prime minister was apprised that some 1.6 million tourists visited Gilgit Baltistan last year.
On the occasion, members of the Royal Foundation of Gilgit Baltistan also presented a cultural robe as a souvenir to Prime Minister Kakar. –Agencies