Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the relevant ministries and departments to accelerate work on ongoing federal development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan and ensure the provision of funds for their timely completion.

He was chairing a meeting in Islamabad today to review progress on development projects in the region. Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain also attended the meeting.

Shehbaz Sharif directed that all bottlenecks hindering development projects be removed on a priority basis and effective coordination among relevant institutions be ensured to expedite implementation.

He reiterated that the development of Gilgit-Baltistan, provision of basic facilities to its people and improvement in their living standards remain among the Federal Government's key priorities.

Progress on hydropower, infrastructure and solar energy projects in Gilgit-Baltistan was also reviewed.

The Prime Minister directed the earliest possible completion of the one-hundred-megawatt solar power project initiated by the Federal Government for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The meeting also discussed the completion of the Naltar Power Project, strengthening counter-terrorism capabilities and the installation of digital infrastructure in the region.

The Prime Minister also called for regular monitoring of development projects, particularly those related to energy, to ensure that the people benefit from them at the earliest.

The meeting paid tribute to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, who will celebrate November first as the historic day marking their freedom from Dogra rule and subsequent accession to Pakistan.

The Prime Minister is expected to visit Gilgit-Baltistan on November first to mark the occasion.

During the meeting, a report of the committee, constituted in July this year on the Prime Minister's directives, was presented.

It reviewed the status of ongoing federal development projects, obstacles to their implementation and measures required to ensure their timely completion.