ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has inaugurated a model village for flood affected families of the country’s northern region on Wednesday.
The premier who is on his official visit to northern region, visited Ghizer district of the Gilgit-Baltistan and inaugurated the Babur Model Village of the 2022 floods affectees.
The village, which covers 110 kanals, includes 62 homes and is part of a broader development initiative that also involves the construction of the 216-kilometer Gilgit-Shandur highway.
During the inauguration ceremony, the Prime Minister handed over property documents to the affected families, marking the official transfer of ownership for their newly built homes.
Recalling his visit to Ghizer in August 2022, when catastrophic flooding caused by climate change had ravaged the region, he expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the reconstruction and resettlement efforts.
“A new settlement has been built for the affected families, who have now received ownership of their homes,” the Prime Minister said while addressing the event.
He promised that all essential services, such as healthcare, education, and utilities, will be made available to the residents of the new village.
PM Shehbaz commended the efforts of the institutions involved in the rehabilitation process and directed authorities to ensure the homes are winter-ready.
“The model village should have all necessary facilities, including a school, dispensary, and sports ground,” he stated.
He also instructed that payments for the project should only be made after a third-party quality check to ensure high standards.
Highlighting the importance of healthcare, the Prime Minister specified that the dispensary in the model village should be fully equipped with ultrasound, X-ray, and maternity services.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister announced an increase in the endowment fund for Qandeel, a young flood victim, from Rs 5 million to Rs 6.7 million, as part of the government’s continued support for those affected by the floods.
New Development Initiatives for Region
Earlier in the day, PM Shehbaz chaired a special meeting of the Gilgit-Baltistan Cabinet in Gilgit, where he announced several initiatives aimed at further developing the region.
The Prime Minister confirmed that 100 megawatts of electricity would be supplied to Gilgit-Baltistan immediately, improving the region’s energy infrastructure.
In a significant step to support education, he also announced the establishment of an endowment fund worth one billion rupees for talented students from Baltistan and Karakoram universities, based on merit.
He also revealed plans to introduce Daanish Schools in Gilgit-Baltistan to improve educational opportunities in the region, noting that the development of the area’s education sector has long been a priority.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif went on to say that the development of all sectors in Gilgit-Baltistan remains a top priority for the federal government.
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He also acknowledged the cooperative efforts of all provinces, including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, in contributing to Pakistan’s recent economic progress.
“The stock exchange has crossed a historic milestone of 92,000 points, and the increase in remittances, tax filers, and a decrease in inflation are positive signs for the national economy,” he stated.
He reiterated that the cooperation of all regions is crucial for the country’s long-term development.
In addition to economic initiatives, the Prime Minister highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to promote tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan, revealing that Qatari investors have shown interest in investing in the region’s tourism sector.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Cabinet meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Attaullah Tarar, Amir Muqam, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, along with members of the Gilgit-Baltistan cabinet and senior officials.
Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Dilbar Khan thanked the Prime Minister and the federal government for their support during challenging times, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022 floods.
