The federal government has taken a significant stride by approving a major project for Gilgit-Baltistan, aiming to combat the impacts of climate change and alleviate the region’s electricity shortage.
Recently sanctioned by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec), this ambitious rural development and climate-resilient project carries a substantial value of over Rs16 billion.
The project is a collaborative effort supported by esteemed entities such as the AFD (French Development Agency), European Union, and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), with a projected cost of Rs16.26 billion, including foreign financing amounting to Rs1.1 billion. The project stands as a testament to foreign investment of historic proportions in Gilgit-Baltistan.
GB’s Additional Chief Secretary, Aziz Ahmed Jamali, lauded the project’s magnitude, highlighting its historical significance as the largest foreign-funded initiative in the region. Responsibility for project implementation rests with the Planning and Development department.
The multifaceted project encompasses diverse components of community upliftment, including the provision of clean drinking water, sanitation facilities featuring treatment plants, climate-resilient and energy-efficient housing, and micro-hydro power ventures. Emphasizing holistic development, the initiative extends to bolstering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and conducting capacity-building programs for government officials.
Moreover, the project is forward-thinking, encompassing the pilot of a green hydrogen project and the initiation of studies to promote sustainable tourism.
These efforts envision environmentally friendly and sustainable practices, positioning Gilgit-Baltistan as a model of responsible development. Chief Secretary Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani elaborated on the project’s design, which holistically tackles developmental challenges and the adverse consequences of climatic shifts.
It seeks to amplify the region’s resilience by facilitating access to clean water, implementing public health measures, establishing healthcare facilities, and constructing eco-friendly and energy-efficient housing. Parallelly, the Executive Committee of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has endorsed the development of three hydro power projects, totaling 245 megawatts, in Gilgit-Baltistan.?