By Our Correspondent
GILGIT: Former prime minister and president of PML-N, Nawaz Sharif, on Tuesday reaffirmed his commitment to the development of Gilgit-Baltistan, promising infrastructure improvements, youth welfare initiatives and greater federal attention to the region ahead of the upcoming elections.
Addressing a public gathering in Gilgit before the June 7 general elections, Nawaz Sharif said his political approach had always focused on earning public support through performance rather than criticising opponents.
Expressing his attachment to the region, he recalled visiting Gilgit and Skardu several times during his previous tenure and said the development of Gilgit-Baltistan would remain among his priorities regardless of election outcomes.
The former prime minister expressed concern over the poor condition of roads in several areas and questioned delays affecting key development schemes, including hydropower projects. He highlighted the role of his previous government in expanding highways and the motorway network across Pakistan.
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Referring to the Gilgit-Skardu road project, Nawaz Sharif said substantial investments had already been made to improve connectivity and pledged to discuss extending and upgrading the road infrastructure up to Khunjerab Pass with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Calling Gilgit-Baltistan a strategic gateway for CPEC-related activities, he urged stronger federal backing to accelerate economic growth and development projects throughout the region.
Nawaz Sharif also announced plans aimed at supporting young people, including scholarships, distribution of laptops, interest-free loans and increased employment opportunities. He further promised to personally monitor future development initiatives.
“If we form the government, I will visit Gilgit-Baltistan every two months,” he told supporters, adding that addressing public problems and improving living standards remained his primary focus.
He praised the federal government’s solar energy initiatives, saying the projects had helped ease electricity shortages in the region and should continue expanding.
Nawaz Sharif arrived in Gilgit on a one-day visit to lead his party’s election campaign after receiving clearance from the election authorities for campaign activities.
He was accompanied by senior party leaders and federal ministers, including Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah and Marriyum Aurangzeb.
Separately, senior PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique, while addressing supporters in Skardu, called for a comprehensive resolution to Gilgit-Baltistan’s constitutional status. He urged parliament and national institutions to initiate meaningful discussions while advocating greater financial and development support for both Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Rafique also stressed the need for long-term planning to tackle development challenges, highlighting opportunities in air connectivity, hydropower generation, internet access and road infrastructure to strengthen the region’s economy.
