No compromise on dam royalty, NALA told

GILGIT, Nov 26: Northern Areas Chief Executive Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan told the legislative assembly on Thursday that he had made it clear to the federal government that there would be no compromise on the rights of Diamer-Bhasha dam’s royalty, adding the centre had agreed in principal to give the people of Gilgit-Baltistan the right.He said during a meeting with the prime minister, he had demanded that the rights of the region should be ensured.

The house witnessed a heated debate on a resolution tabled by Fida Mohammad Nahshad regarding creation of new districts in Skardu comprising Kharmang and Shigar subdivisions.

The resolution was, however, passed despite demand by Haider Khan and Ali

Murad to also make Yasin and Gupis as well as Darel and Tangir subdivisions as new districts.

The house endorsed the resolution of Amna Ansari demanding formation of Gilgit-Baltistan Education Foundation, but Haider Khan opposed the name Gilgit-Baltistan and said it was not approved by the government so this could not be called as an official name.

Adviser on food and information Sikandar Ali told the house that the food department did not issue licences for establishment of mills rather it was the department of industries which had the power.

He acknowledged that there was shortage of wheat flour, but it was due to the fault of millers and dealers.

He said 1,200,000 bags of wheat on subsidised rates had been transported to the region and foolproof measures were being adopted to stop pilferage during the transportation of the commodity.

In reply to a question of Walayat Ali Khan, the adviser informed the house that 310,000 bags of wheat were given to Skardu.

Fida Mohammad Nashad thanked prime minister’s adviser on interior for announcing creation of 5,000 vacancies and said filling of these posts would help reduce unemployment in the area. Dawn