Govt to table proposed GB 2019 Act in upcoming NA session: NA body told

ISLAMABAD, Apr 10 (APP):Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Ali Amin Khan Gandapur informed the National Assembly on Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan that the government would table the proposed reforms bill for Gilgit-Baltistan in upcoming National Assembly session for endorsement to introduce political and administrative reforms in GB through an act of parliament.
The first ever meeting of the National Assembly Committee on Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan was chaired by Rana Shamim Ahmed Khan, MNA.
The minister apprised the committee that it was the long standing demand of people of Gilgit-Baltistan to introduce reforms in GB to end their miseries.
“The reforms had been finalized with the consultation of all the stakeholders” he further said.
To a question of a legislator, Gandapur apprised the committee the foreign office and other stakeholders had opposed declaring GB as provisional province of Pakistan as they felt that this could affect the Kashmir cause.
When asked whether GB people would be given representation in the parliament, the minister said if GB was not being given provisional status, how GB people would have representation in the parliament of Pakistan.
He said GB people were availing subsidies and making the region as province might end these facilities.
The minister said that the development projects in the Azad Jammu Kashmir would be completed pending from the last 10 years. He said that projects related to health and education sectors would also be carried in the GB and AJK on priority to provide best available facilities to the masses.
He said that comprehensive compensation package had also been introduced to provide assistance to people affected by the Indian army firing on the Line of Control (LoC). “All the affectees at LOC would be given Insaf health cards” he added.
He said that Eco-tourism departments would also be opened to facilitate local as well as international tourists. The minister said that the ministry is also planning to make a film on the atrocities being committed by the Indian forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). He said that the film will be presented in the world film fair to highlight miseries of the Kashmiris.
Secretary Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan informed the committee that Rs 22 billion had been allocated in 2018-19 Public Sector Development Progamme (PSDP). He said that 50 bed cardiac hospital is under construction at Gilgit Baltistan while medical colleges in district Muzaffarabad, Mirpur and Gilgit are under construction costing Rs 6 billion.
The Committee also passed two resolutions against killing of innocent Kashmiris by Indian forces in IOK and unprovoked firing on LoC by the Indian.
Nasir Iqbal Bosal suggested that the missions aboard should be asked to make sure publishing of article related to Kashmiris’ miseries in their respective countries national dailies in month.