Flood damage must be evaluated, according to PM Shehbaz, and the solar project must be finished this year.
GILGIT (UPA) : Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a Rs4 billion plan for infrastructure rehabilitation and gave compensation checks to impacted households during his one-day visit to Gilgit Baltistan (GB) on Monday. Sharif was there to meet with victims of the recent floods and excessive rains.
The premier gave compensation checks totaling Rs 1 million to the relatives of those who perished in the tragedy when he was there. The prime minister said he had come to show solidarity with the flood victims and prayed for the dead and the quick recovery of the injured.
“Pakistan is among the countries most affected by climate change,” Prime Minister Shehbaz stated during the delivery of the checks.
In order to reduce the likelihood of future disasters, he advocated for the creation of an advanced warning system. “An early warning system is the need of the hour,” he said.
He bemoaned the lack of progress on this front over the previous seven years and was disappointed that there had not been any notable advancements even in the last year and a quarter.
He urged all pertinent institutions to take coordinated action to address these shortcomings, saying, “I will ask ministers and secretaries why considerable work wasn’t done in this time.”
PM Shehbaz assured the victims that he would keep coming until all of the displaced people had been relocated. In order to determine the losses incurred, he also declared that a damage assessment will be carried out.
He promised that his next visit to the area will occur by the end of this month and instructed the Communications Minister to start the process of restoring the infrastructure right away.
The premier also disclosed that this year would see the completion of a 100 megawatt solar power project in the area. He also mentioned that a Daanish school would be created in Skardu and launched during the subsequent visit.
Following his arrival in GB for a daylong visit, PM Shehbaz was briefed by Governor Mehdi Shah on the flood situation and damages caused by recent rains. He was accompanied by Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs Engineer Amir Muqam, Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Malik, and Adviser Rana Sanaullah.
The PM was also updated on the state of law and order in the area as well as the status of the ongoing development projects.
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