GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah has alleged that a ‘lobby’ led by federal secretary Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan is opposing the ongoing foreign-funded power projects in GB, including the 26MW Shagarthang Hydropower Project.
HunzaNews, July 5th, 2014.
He was speaking at a press conference in Skardu here on Thursday.
He said that the many mega projects, including 26MW Shagarthang Hydropower Project, were being funded by foreign donor agencies like the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and European Investment Bank.
He said that the recent move was a deliberate attempt of the lobby for cancellation of the Shagarthang power project while citing the reason that ADB had withdrawn its commitment of funding the mega project. Mr Shah said that the ADB had clarified that it was committed to funding the approved project.
“I will take up the issue with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and in Gilgit-Baltistan Council that GB is being deprived of the foreign-funded projects through conspiracies initiated by officials at the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan,” the chief minister said.
He said that Shargarthang power project was important for the people of GB, specially Skardu, who had been facing 16 hours daily loadshedding.
DAWN
