This was stated by former Deputy Speaker, Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly, Jameel Ahmad, while speaking at a seminar organised by Abutalib Educational Complex the other day. While highlighting the significance of the huge Chinese investment, he said that the $46 billion project was in great economic interest of Gilgit-Baltistan, since the region was located at the heart of the project.
He said that the government should allocate at least three development projects for GB to help uplift the socio-economic life of the inhabitants of the region. Ahmad said that former president Asif Ali Zardari had taken keen interest in bringing huge investment in the country. "He visited China 11 times during his term and discussed with the authorities this mega project," he added.
He said that the work on the expansion of China-Gilgit road was underway smoothly and a major portion it had been completed. "We met PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari the other day and put forward our demands regarding CPEC project. We made it clear that GB is geographically located at the centre of the mega project, hence, it should be given greater importance. However, the government's motherly step treatment with the region will further deepen the sense of deprivation among the already destitute people," he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Imran Nadeem Shigri, PPP lawmaker from GB, said that energy and road projects were the key components of CPEC, and GB offered huge hydro power potential, which was the cheapest source of energy. "A pre feasibility report carried out some years back, suggested that GB can produce over 50,000 megawatts of hydroelectricity that would not only cater to the domestic need but can also be sold to neighbouring counties," he added.
He lamented the federal government for not working on the cheapest sources of energy and said that it was setting up some coal- and LNG-based projects in Punjab's Sahiwal and Khaniwal areas. To a question on constitutional rights of GB, he said that "the Chinese authorities have recently asked the Pakistani ruling elite and government to clear its position on the region's status in order to complete the strategic CPEC project successfully."
"In compliance with the Chinese advice, a constitutional committee has been formed under the supervision of Sartaj Aziz, national security advisor. While, the GB Chief Minister is the co-opt member of the committee," he said and regretted that although the GB CM had been made bound to attend the meetings, it was not necessary for the committee members to accept his demands and suggestions.
He said that the government should make the GB representative as a permanent member of the committee and his demands/suggestions should be accepted in the greater interest of the GB. He accused the GB CM of not making efforts towards establishing export processing zone authority (EPZA) despite the federal government's clear directions to all the provincial heads, including the GB CM, to set up EPZAs as early as possible.
He hoped that the GB's tourism, minerals, fruit and vegetable, and energy sectors would be developed under the CPEC project. Jafar Subhani, President, Shia Ulema Council (SUC), Karachi Chapter, said the diverse political mindset of GB was a major stumbling block in the development and deprivation of the area.
He asked the GB residents to elect competent and sincere people instead of casting votes on sectarian grounds. "The political and religious leadership, business community, civil society, media and above all the youth should come forward and be on the same page in order to resolve collective issues, and to gain rights," he said. Dr Ali Muhammad of Majlis-e-Wehdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), Minhaj Mosvi, Allama Faisal Shayari, Hafiz Bilal Imami, and Anwar Ali also spoke on the occasion.