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| Gilani announces uplift projects for Gilgit-Baltistan |
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Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Addresses PPP election rally in Skardu
By M Taqi Akhunzada
SKARDU: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said the government has empowered the people of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and elected representatives of the area will run its affairs in future.
He was addressing a public gathering to launch an election campaign for the PPP candidates fielded in various constituencies of Baltistan region on Tuesday. Gilani said the PPP government was implementing the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, and political reforms for Gilgit-Baltistan were part of that. He added that his government believed in the reconciliatory approach vis-a-vis other political forces in Pakistan.
Addressing a gathering, the prime minister said he was keen to meet the people of the area and he had made the visit despite the fact that he was not given security clearance. Gilani said Gilgit-Baltistan had the potential to generate 40,000 MW of electricity and this had to be harnessed. He said the government was determined to exploit natural resources for economic uplift of the people.
The prime minister said Skardu was a big city and directed the authorities to send the proposal for creating two new districts, Kharmang and Shiger, shortly so that a formal decision in this regard could be taken and officially announced.
He announced the upgrading and establishment of a number of schools and health centres in Gilgit-Baltistan. He gifted 30 buses to the Education department for distribution among colleges and schools. He announced benefits for the Gilgit-Baltistan police equal to those available to the Federal Capital Police. Gilani also ordered hill allowance and minimum salary of Rs 6,000 for a government employee. He also declared that Skardu would be made an international airport, giving boost to tourism which, in turn, would bring prosperity to the people of the area.
He announced compensation for the victims of the recent earthquake and to those affected by Khuplu and Sadpara dams. The prime minister announced recruitment of 5,000 police personnel and the number would be distributed proportionately among the districts to maintain law and order. He requested the people to vote for the PPP candidates.
The prime minister was accorded a warm welcome when he arrived here on a one-day visit. Shabbir Ahmed Mir adds from Gilgit: On the last day of electioneering for general polls in GB, Gilani announced a set of development schemes for the region, asking the people to vote for candidates contesting elections on the PPP tickets. The ruling PPP is fielding 23 candidates, the largest number of candidates. The MQM has 20 candidates.
The prime minister announced to set up the Gilgit Development Authority, and the Mineral Development Authority in the region, besides announcing a dozen other projects to raise the living standard of people.
Gilani announced construction of sewerage system in Gilgit city in addition to building a number of hydel power projects worth billions of rupees. The prime minister said a sum of Rs 1.5 billion would be allocated for the health department.
Gilani said in the education department, 3,000 people would be inducted while 50,000 more Benazir Income Support forms would be distributed among the people. He announced setting up of four new Tehsils in two districts of Gilgit and Skardu. Gilani announced Rs 2 billion allocation for the construction and upgrading of colleges and other institutions and Rs 1 billion for hydel power generation.
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Three killed as Sh Rashid escapes attempt on life
By Shakeel Anjum
RAWALPINDI: Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief and a candidate for NA-55 (Rawalpindi) by-election Sheikh Rashid Ahmad was wounded, while three people — a guard and two party workers — were killed when four gunmen more |
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12 soldiers killed in South Waziristan
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Plan to attack five-star hotel foiled
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Govt taking court for a ride
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Pakistan against arms race: Gilani
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Punjab-Sindh water row Centre’s intervention sought
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French, Dutch fight over giving LNG to Pakistan
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Nine killed as no let-up in rains
By Nisar Mahmood
PESHAWAR: Nine people were killed and scores of others injured as heavy rains and snowfall lashed various parts of the country for the fourth consecutive day on Monday.
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Malik orders NUML closure as protest enters 5ht day
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Malik insists no Blackwater in Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik while responding to an accusation from a PML-N parliamentarian told the National Assembly that Blackwater was not providing security to the president and the prime mini more |
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FBR gets list of properties rented out to foreigners
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Repealing of 17th Amendment
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Three suspects held in Mohmand
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No presence of Blackwater, DynCorp in Pakistan, NA body told
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Govt urged to take up water issue with India
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat while urging the government to take up the issue of ‘water terrorism’ with New Delhi, has question more |
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Avalanche kills 17 Indian soldiers in held Kashmir
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Taliban defiant as Afghans flee ahead of assault
KANDAHAR: The Nato commanders urged the Taliban to surrender as troops dug in on Monday for a major assault on their key stronghold in southern Afghanistan, sending thousands of residents fleeing.
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Plea to freeze foreign accounts
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LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday ordered the federal government to submit a reply within four weeks on a petition seeking freezing of accounts in foreign banks and recovery of illegal assets accumu more |
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Attack on Sh Rashid
RAWALPINDI: The PML-N candidate for by-polls from NA-55, Malik Shakil Awan, has announced suspension of electioneering for a day to mourn the death of those killed in the attack on the office of his rival, Shei more |
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Indian forces to halt Kashmir rally outside UN office
HELD SRINAGAR: The held Kashmir authorities deployed thousands of police and troops on Monday to prevent a protest outside the UN office here over the recent killing of two teenage boys by Indian security force more |
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briefs...
20 die in Afghan floods, avalanches
KANDAHAR: Twenty people have died in floods and avalanches triggered by some of the heaviest rain and snow in Afghanistan for 50 years, an official said on Monday. At more |
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ISSN 1563-9479 
