- Building better infrastructure, creating employment opportunities also high on the agenda
- GB’s strategic location means it can become a hub of economic activity
- Nawaz Sharif is my leader but I idealize the work of CM Punjab Shehbaz Sharif
- Previous Government did nothing for development of GB
- Will transform GB into a prosperous region during my tenure
- PM Nawaz Sharif has taken special interest in development of the area
Patriot Report
Islamabad: Elimination of corruption, maintaining peaceful atmosphere, successful completion of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), building better infrastructure, creating employment opportunities, investing in mega hydro power projects are top most priorities of the Gilgit Baltistan (GB) government. 
This was stated by Chief Minister of Gilgit Baltistan Hafiz Hafeez ur Rehman in an exclusive interview with Daily the Patriot, he said that his government believes more on evolution than revolution to redress the grievances of the masses. While talking about the potential of Gilgit Baltistan region to produce hydroelectricity, he said that nature has bestowed such landscape that with minimum investment over 40,000 Megawatt electricity can be produced, “Our country at the moment facing shortfall of four to five thousand megawatts, after successful completion of mega hydro projects, we would not only eradicate our energy deficit but would also be able to use cheep electricity as a unit would not cost over 1.5 rupees” he explained. He said that federal government under the vision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has allocated billions of rupees to be spent on the construction of mega power generating projects including Diamer-Bhasha Dam.
While lamenting previous government has said that due to the lack of vision of previous government mineral rich region could not take advantage from its potential. He said that successful completion of CPEC would bring utmost economic prosperity in the region. “Along with economic stability CPEC would bring employment opportunities for our youth” he added. He said that he has convinced federal government to indulge in talks with Afghanistan for building a road link with Kyrgyzstan, its border is just fifteen kilometers away from Gilgit Baltistan. He said that Gilgit Baltistan is situated on a vast area of 24 square miles with the potential to change the fate of country and under the vision of federal government all the available recources would be used to utilize the true potential of region.
Hafeez ur Rehman said that after taking oath of Chief Minister of Gilgit Baltistan I refused to utilize the rented house of five lac rupees per month which was being used by CM of previous government. He said that he ordered to take all the furniture of that house worth 8 million to Gilgit Baltistan and government would utilize it and would not purchase furniture for next five years. He said that he has cut the numbers of vehicles were being used by previous government. He said that he has developed measures of accountability and moving towards no-tolerance policy in case of corruption of any sort. He said in the previous government development budget was being used on non-development projects and vise-versa, but federal government has instructed to use the budget on merit.
Answering a question he said that sectarianism and extremism has been controlled and supremacy of law has been restored in the region. “We have won by vast majority in general elections, which reflect people of all sects and ethnicities have voted for us which was a rare case in previous elections”. He added.
He said that it was sincerity of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that people have shown trust on PML N and have given vast majority to the party. He said Nawaz sharif has visited Gilgit Baltistan number of times while during the tenure of previous government Asif Ali Zardari had not visited the region even once. He said that Shahbaz Sharif is his role model for his leadership abilities and development skills.
