Gilgit-Baltistan:20 Percent Resettlement of DBD DPs has Been Accomplished

ISLAMABAD (Dawn): The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan was informed on Friday that 20 per cent of the resettlement process to facilitate the construction of Diamer-Bhasha dam had been completed.

Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Secretary Shahidullah Baig told the committee during its first meeting that Minister for Kashmir Affairs Birjis Tahir had directed the ministry to acquire the required land and resolve other related issues in three months.

As part of confidence-building measures for foreign tourists, he added, the ministry had organised Silk Route Festival which was attended by diplomats from 22 countries.

The prime minister has announced that a well-equipped special police force comprising 1,500 personnel will be raised to ensure safe journey on the Karakoram Highway.

Talking about the performance of his ministry, the secretary said that it had smashed a mafia dealing in flour in Gilgit-Baltistan and recovered Rs2 billion from it.