ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives Asad Umar has said that the aim of the Gilgit Baltistan (GB) development package for Energy is not only to produce energy but also to build the right institutional and regulatory framework, and generation, transmission, and distribution capacity as well.
He was addressing a progress review meeting on GB development Plan here here on Monday.
Additional Secretary Development & Special Initiatives, Additional Chief Secretary GB, and other senior officers from Ministries and Division attended the meeting.
Additional Chief Secretary GB briefed the Minister on the GB projects funded through PSDP and non-PSDP sources, as well as in the Public-Private Partnership mode.
The various priority sectors included in the GB Development Package such as clean energy / Hydropower, Skill development, tourism, private sector development were discussed.
It was informed that 19 new projects already included in the GB Plan of which PC-Is and PC-IIs of 10 projects have been approved & included in the PSDP 2021-22, wherein 9 projects are under preparation for PSDP 2022-23 and 11 non-PSDP projects at various stages of implementation.
He directed the GB government to expedite work on the transaction structure and feasibility studies of the P3 Power projects.
He instructed P3A to assist the GB government in strengthening GB PPP Unit and also help in the identification of private sector partners. Further, the Minister emphasized the need of establishing Primary schools for girls in different districts of upper Hunza, GB.
For promotion and development of the Tourism Sector, he stresses that accessibility, tourist facilitation, information about sites should be improved.
Read more: Efforts underway to avert looming gas crisis in country: Hammad Azhar
