Gilgit: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for acknowledging the party’s electoral mandate in Gilgit-Baltistan, pledging to work jointly for the region’s development and constitutional progress.
Addressing the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected Chief Minister Amjad Hussain Advocate in Gilgit-Baltistan, Bilawal said he appreciated the support extended by representatives of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) in the region.
“I am grateful to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for accepting our mandate,” Bilawal said. “The representatives of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) in Gilgit-Baltistan have supported us, and together we will work for the development and prosperity of this region.”
The PPP chairman paid tribute to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan for their historical struggle, saying they continue to remember the contributions of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He also praised the sacrifices made by the people of the region in their fight against Dogra rule.
Bilawal reiterated his party’s commitment to securing constitutional rights for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.
“I want to see the day when the elected representatives of Gilgit-Baltistan sit alongside me in the National Assembly,” he said. “The promise made by the Pakistan Peoples Party regarding land ownership rights will be fulfilled.”
He added that despite political differences at the federal level, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan would not be made to feel any divide between the government and the opposition.
Highlighting the region’s economic potential, Bilawal said Gilgit-Baltistan possesses immense opportunities in agriculture and investment.
“Public-private partnerships can help promote farming and economic development here,” he said. “This is your land, and you have the right to decide how it should be utilized. Our responsibility is to create an economic environment that generates employment opportunities for the local population.”
He also described the people of Gilgit-Baltistan as among the most talented in Pakistan and stressed the need to harness their potential through investment and development.
Commenting on the political climate, Bilawal noted that politics in Pakistan is often associated with conflict and division, but said his party intends to pursue a different approach in Gilgit-Baltistan.
“In Gilgit-Baltistan, this government belongs to both those who won and those who lost the elections,” he said. “We will not allow supporters of any political party to feel excluded because everyone here belongs to Gilgit-Baltistan.”
Bilawal further announced that local government elections in Gilgit-Baltistan would be held before the onset of winter, reaffirming his party’s commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and grassroots governance in the region.
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