The Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Amjad Hussain Azar, has called for the region to be given representation in the National Assembly and Senate of Pakistan, while reaffirming that GB is part of the Kashmir dispute.
Speaking at a Meet the Press event at the Karachi Press Club, CM Gilgit-Baltistan has said his government wanted to keep the Kashmir issue alive and highlighted concerns over the region’s constitutional status, natural resources and economic development.
He said there were reservations about the proposal to make Gilgit-Baltistan a provisional province, stressing the need to address the region’s constitutional and political concerns.
Amjad Hussain Azar also criticized India’s decision on 5 August 2019 to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, saying the international community had failed to take action against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He also showed concern over the mineral resources of the region and alleged that gold worth Rs.15 billion was being stolen from Gilgit-Baltistan every day, blaming what he described as government mismanagement.
He said the movement of raw material out of the region should be restricted to protect its natural resources.
“Protecting Gilgit-Baltistan’s resources is essential,” he said.
The Chief Minister Azar said high electricity prices were a major obstacle to industrial growth, arguing that businesses could not operate sustainably with power costing 60 rupees per unit.
He described Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Gilgit-Baltistan as important energy corridors, adding that the region’s hydropower potential should be utilized more effectively.
CM Gilgit-Baltistan also questioned the absence of a Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) office in Gilgit-Baltistan, noting that the organization’s office was in Lahore.
He said energy infrastructure and administrative arrangements needed to be improved to support development in the region.
Talking about tourism, the chief minister said Gilgit-Baltistan had tourism potential greater than Switzerland and that international visitors were keen to explore the region.
However, he stressed the need for better air services and digital connectivity to unlock that potential.
Azar said the provincial government could not address every challenge on its own and urged the federal government to fulfil its responsibilities towards Gilgit-Baltistan.