Peace and harmony vital for progress, Mutabiat Shah

by Zulfiqar Ali Khan

HUNZA, December 8: “Peace and harmony is the key prerequisite for equitable and sustainable development of Gilgit-Baltistan,” said Mutabiat Shah, the newly selected technocrat member of the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA), from Hunza, while talking to media persons in Gilgit. He stressed the need to promote inter faith and cultural harmony while bringing all the stakeholders in a combine platform.

“The Government of PPP has empowered the people of GB through the recently announced package and it is on us here to pave ways for further steps from the federal government”, he said. While stressing the need for a coordinated and team work, he called for developing focused projects for changing life quality of the marginalized and left-out segments of the society. “The region has great potential of power generation which needs to be exploited to facilitate the development process in the region”, he noted. Mr Shah further said that the students of GB need to be given education according to the regional specificities which would further help in developing relevant human resources in the region.

He promised work with his other representatives of the region for promoting merit, through introduction of reforms in the prevailing ad-hoc and contract based systems in the region. He also expressed his resolve to capacitate media to function as watch dogs on legislators and the bureaucracy.

Outlining his plans for the future Mr Shah said that he will encourage civil society initiatives and will implement projects through grass root level institutions while utilising the experiences learnt during his decades engagement with Aga Khan Rural Support Programme. He said that the Local Support Organisations have the capacity to increase the effectiveness in service delivery and receiving mechanisms.

Mr. Mutabiat Shah also said that he will develop a consultation body of educated youth and professionals in order to multiply the benefits of development and prepare youth for the future leadership positions. Participatory style of development, he said, can take the local communities ahead in the race of development.

“Wazir Baig and I would work as a team”, he said, while talking about implementation of the PPP manifesto in Hunza valley. He said that nineteen portfolio projects, including obtaining additional seat for Hunza in GBLA, are their primary priority areas.

He also said that Gojal deserves the status of a sub – division within in the newly established Hunza – Nagar district. Efforts will be made to convince NHA to take over the roads of the far-flung Shimshal, Chipurson and Misgar valleys, he added. The approval of PC-IV of different health and education sector projects will ensure effective service delivery to the local communities, he said. Efforts will be made to develop sense of belonging among the youth and restoration of common image and prestige of Hunza valley.

He thanked the PPP high-ups in Islamabad, Gilgit and Hunza for entrusting him with the position. He said the people of Gojal have faith on the manifesto of PPP and will never forget the favours extended by PPP since the time of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

Meanwhile, the Hunza chapter of PPP also thanked the President Asif Ali Zardari, PM Yousuf Raza Gilani, Governor Qamar Zaman Kaira and other party high-ups for their meritorious decision to select Mutabiat Shah as technocrat. They expressed hope that he will utilise all his capabilities for the development of GB.

To read PROFILE of Mr Mutabiat Shah, click HERE