Punjab to assist Gilgit-Baltistan in land record computerisation

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday announced provision of 25 buses to promote tourism and technical assistance for computerisation of land record in Gilgit-Baltistan besides financial aid worth of Rs 1 million to the heirs of Dilawar Abbas, a student from the region who was murdered in Punjab. The announcement was made as a delegation of cabinet members and advisers from Gilgit-Baltistan headed by Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeez-ur-Rehman called on Shahbaz.

Hafeez thanked Shahbaz and the people and government of Punjab for their support to develop Gilgit-Baltistan, adding that the chief minister had developed Punjab as a model province. He said the provincial government had shown true benefaction by providing one billion rupees from its budget to Gilgit-Baltistan where a 300-bed hospital was also being developed in collaboration with Punjab.

He also cited installation of an MRI centre and completion of Safe City Project as examples of support and technical assistance extended by the Punjab chief minister who, he said, was a visionary leadership.

Hafeez said the PML-N government had carried unparalleled development work in Gilgit-Baltistan during the last two and a half years, adding that restoration of peace also resulted in a great increase in the number of tourists visiting the region.

“We need technical assistance of the Punjab government for up-gradation of different sectors including infrastructure development, transport and computerisation of land record,” he stressed.

Speaking on the occasion, Shahbaz promised to meet the demands made for technical assistance and said the Gilgit-Baltistan government was moving ahead in the right direction under the leadership of Hafeez. He directed the officials concerned to send a team immediately to the region for assisting the computerisation.

Separately, Adviser to Prime Minister on Civil Aviation Sardar Mehtab Abbasi also called on Shahbaz and discussed different matters related to development schemes and political situation. Mehtab congratulated the chief minister over the success in the Lodhran by-election.

Shahbaz said NA-154 by-election was message to the elements engaged in negative politics as the voters had shown full confidence in the leadership and policies of the PML-N. Separately, the chief minister, in his message on the International Day of Social Justice, said formation of a society based on justice was possible only through protection of human rights. Also on Monday, Shahbaz presided over a meeting to take detailed review of progress made on health sector reforms programme.