Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that both international and domestic tourists will swarm Gilgit Baltistan (GB) because of enhanced facilities in the region, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
He also referred to the inauguration of Skardu International Airport and Jaglot-Skardu road in the region.
Imran Khan reaffirmed the government's commitment to uplift the backward areas of the country.
Addressing a public gathering in Skardu on Thursday, Imran Khan said various steps have been taken in order to bring Gilgit Baltistan, tribal districts, south Balochistan, interior Sindh and those in Punjab at par with the developed ones.
He said that overseas Pakistanis will be the first ones to visit the region to spend their summer vacations. He said this will provide livelihood opportunities to the local people of Gilgit Baltistan.
The premier said that tourism can become a big asset for Pakistan and pointed out that Switzerland—which is half the size of Gilgit Baltistan—is earning seventy billion dollars from tourism.
He said given the unparalleled beauty of Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan can also earn about 30 to 40 billion dollars from tourism in this region. He said there is also great scope of religious tourism in other parts of the country.
Turning to the issue of price hike, the Prime Minister said it is an international phenomenon.
He said that the government has launched Ehsaas Ration Scheme under which each household earning less than fifty thousand rupees a month will be provided a 30 percent subsidy on wheat-flour, ghee and pulses.
He said our health insurance scheme has covered the whole population in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and the same is being launched in Punjab from next month.
He said the health cards will also be provided to the people of Gilgit Baltistan under which they will be able to avail medical treatment worth one million rupees from the public or private hospitals.
The Prime Minister said we have also launched the Kamyab Pakistan initiative to uplift the underprivileged segments of the society. He said this program envisages interest free loans and technical training for one member of every deserving household.
In his remarks, Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan Khalid Khurshid said it is the first time that the present government has announced a development package for the region, saying this will help address our electricity and connectivity issues
Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that inflation will decrease in the coming days as POL prices has been lowered already.