Gilgit – Tajikistan road promises an era of prosperity for the region

ISLAMABAD, Oct 17 (APP): The proposed road between Gilgit-Baltistan to Tajikistan would open up new avenues of progress and prosperity in the region, besides turning Gilgit as an international city. The estimated Rs. 2 billion Gilgit Tajikistan Road would connect Pakistan to the land-locked Central Asian states, where virgin yet vast natural reserves await access to international markets. Pakistan is the only country through which Central Asian State could do business with the outer world either through Gawadar Port in Balochistan Province or the proposed Gilgit-Tajikistan Road.

Pir Karam Ali Shah, the Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan, had recently met with both President and Prime Minister to apprise them of the importance of 220-km-long road.

The GB Governor’s Camp Office in Islamabad told Pir Karam Ali Shah had assuranced by both President and Prime Minister to take up the issue seriously.

It was learnt through the Camp Office people of Gilgit-Baltistan were eager to have that road, which they hope, would turn the fate of their region.

The road would provide the shortest possible route to the people of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, besides reinvigorating their historical, cultural and trade ties spread over hundreds of years.

As visualized, Gilgit-Tajikistan Road would connect Pakistan with Tajikistan by passing through Wakhan Corridor.

The project is compatible with the agenda of SAARC Summit which is called “Connectivity”. Tajikistan has already completed the construction of road and bridge on its side of the border.

However, the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly has recently adopted a resolution demanding construction of the Pakistan-Tajikistan Road via Ghizer district of Gilgit-Baltistan instead of Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The resolution was tabled by Nawaz Khan Naji.