Senate Body Recommends CPEC Development Projects In GB

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 07th Nov, 2016 ) : Senate Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan (KA&GB), Monday recommended to set up an industrial park and a new airport in Gilgit Baltistan.

The committee also reviewed the progress of building of Diamer Bhasha Dam and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The committee chaired by Senator Professor Sajid Mir, said the Ministry of KA&GB and Planning and Development Department of GB will review progress of various projects like dams, renovation of airports and roads in CPEC for providing benefit to the locals.

The committee was informed by the ministry of KA&GB and officials of Planning and Development department that there are many projects linked with CPEC especially roads, buildings, dams and electricity projects in Gilgit Baltistan.

The body asked the officials to ensure more projects linked with CPEC and provide details regarding on going projects. The Minister for KA&GB Ch Muhammad Barjees Tahir, informed the committee that contract of Rs 42 billion has been finalized for Gilgit-Sakardu road and government was also establishing grid station.

He said government is going to establish a university in Baltistan and start classes for engineering and medical studies. The officials of planning and development department said Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Dassu Dam, and Bunji Dams are included in CPEC project.

The Minister said the government of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) inaugurated Diamer-Bhasha dam twice and acquired only two per cent land while present government had acquired 98 percent of land and now Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif directed to start work on the said dam which would be completed soon.

The officials of planning and development department of GB informed the committee that the work is in progress on fiber optic system from Khunjrab to Islamabad. They also informed the body that data city, information technology park, science and technology park and software hub would be established in GB for the development of the area.

The committee also constituted a three member official committee led by Federal secretary KA&GB, chief secretary GB and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) will resolve the issue of land encroachment in districts Mansehra and Diamer, adding the committee will prepare a report in 15 days after determining the land record of the area.

The committee was attended by Senator Abdul Rehman Malik, Najma Hameed, Gen (Retd) Salahuddin Tirmizi, Ahmed Hassan, Minister for KA&GB Barjees Tahir, officials of planning and development department of GB, chief secretary GB, DCO Mansehra and other officials.