Natalie A. Baker, Chargé d’Affaires of the United States, called on Governor GB Syed Mehdi Shah at the Governor house Skardu

GILGIT, Oct 07 (APP): Ms Natalie A. Baker, Chargé d’Affaires of the United States, called on Governor Gilgit-Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah at the Governor House in Skardu. The meeting covered a range of matters of mutual interest, including development and educational cooperation in Gilgit-Baltistan, the current situation of Satpara Dam, water resources, electricity, tourism and other areas of mutual interest.

Welcoming the U.S. delegation to Gilgit-Baltistan, Governor Syed Mehdi Shah appreciated the longstanding and friendly relations between Pakistan and the United States and the cooperation between the two countries in various fields. He noted that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan are peaceful and hospitable and value friendly relations with people from different parts of the world. He also appreciated U.S. cooperation in the fields of education and development.

Discussing Satpara Dam, the Governor noted that the project is of considerable importance to the people of Skardu for electricity generation, irrigation and water supply, and represents an important example of development partnership between Pakistan and the United States. He emphasized the need for a technical assessment of the project’s current situation, water availability and operational performance.

The discussion also covered the possibility of augmenting water availability through potential sources, including Shatung Nullah, so that the available water resources and the potential for improving the performance of Satpara Dam could be assessed on a technical basis. The Governor also referred to a recent local initiative through which the people of Baltistan diverted water from the relatively small Phialong tributary towards Satpara Dam, with assistance from the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan. He described the initiative as an example of local support and community participation in the project.

The meeting also included a discussion on enhancing awareness, access and opportunities for students from Gilgit-Baltistan under U.S. educational programmes, including the Fulbright and Humphrey programmes.

Ms. Natalie A. Baker expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to visit Gilgit-Baltistan and noted the region’s natural beauty, peaceful environment and the hospitality of its people. She said that the visit provided a useful opportunity to learn more about Gilgit-Baltistan and engage with relevant authorities in the region.

She appreciated the information shared and the discussions held regarding Satpara Dam and other development-related matters. In the context of the historical U.S. engagement with Satpara Dam, interest was expressed in better understanding the available information and technical aspects concerning the project and its current situation. She added that The United States is actively working to build partnerships between American and local universities, including support for vocational training in critical minerals and mining.

The meeting also included an exchange of views on potential areas of mutual interest, including education, climate change, water resources, renewable energy, sustainable tourism and development in mountainous regions.

Later, Governor Gilgit-Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah and Ms. Natalie A. Baker, Chargé d’Affaires of the United States, along with the delegation, visited the Satpara Dam project. At the site, the relevant authorities briefed the delegation on the history, design and current status of the project, including water availability, power generation and irrigation-related aspects. The delegation was also apprised of the available technical information and the current operational situation, followed by questions and an exchange of views on various aspects of the project.