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Funds sought for Gilgit development

B. Muralidhar Reddy

Plan covers health and education

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said Islamabad has approached the World Bank and other foreign donors to prepare a comprehensive plan for socio-economic development of Northern Areas covering Gilgit and Baltistan. Northern Areas was part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir but after partition was made part of Pakistan unlike Pak occupied Kashmir (PoK).

People of Northern Areas have been demanding for decades self-governance and a say in development matters.

In 2000, Pakistan's Supreme Court criticised the Government for denying the Northern Areas the rights given to other provinces but there has been little progress in involving representatives of the region in governance and development.

Talking to a delegation of Pakistan Muslim League from Northern Areas here recently, Mr. Aziz said Pakistan had asked the World Bank to prepare a plan covering health, education and recreational facilities and road links to Central Asia and China for the promotion of tourism.

Northern Areas is the gateway to China and Central Asia and through the historic silk route provides access for trade, energy and travel. Pakistan has ceded a large chunk of territory in Northern Areas to China under a pact in the 60's.

Nuclear power

Pakistan intends to generate 8800 mw of nuclear power in the next 25 years which would account for eight per cent of the electricity production.

Chairing the 33rd Council meeting of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) here, Mr. Aziz said the energy needs were growing by 8-10 per cent annually and energy security was critical to maintain growth and competitiveness.

He said the Government was looking for power generation from all possible sources.

He said the plans included enhancing exploitation of hydropower, energy generation through the use of gas and furnace oil and alternate energy resources (solar, wind and biomas).

He said the nuclear programme was for peaceful purposes. An effective command and control authority to ensure the safety and security of our strategic assets was in place, he said. Mr. Aziz said Pakistan was working with China to explore new avenues of cooperation for peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

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