Daily Times

Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Khalid Khurshid called on Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi at his office on Monday.

Matters of mutual interest, political situation and measures to promote inter-provincial harmony were discussed during the meeting, says a handout.

Pervaiz Elahi said that resource-rich Pakistan was composed of federating units including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. If all the federating units develop together, Pakistan would develop, he added. He said that everyone had to walk together to take the beloved country forward as Pakistan would achieve its destination only through joint efforts, adding that the provincial government was working to promote inter-provincial harmony. “People living in Gilgit-Baltistan are our brethren and their development and prosperity is dear to us,” he said.

“The Punjab government would continue its role in the development of Gilgit-Baltistan,” he said and added that greater cooperation would be extended in the healthcare system, education, information technology and other sectors.

The chief minister thanked Pervaiz Elahi for his cooperation and invited him to visit Gilgit-Baltistan. The cooperation of the Punjab government for the development of Gilgit-Baltistan was worthy of praise and “I am grateful for the support”, he added.

Provincial Adviser Amir Saeed Raan, Principal Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti, former Principal Secretary GM Sikandar and others were also present.

Meanwhile, Pervaiz Elahi congratulated the Sikh community on the 553rd birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak.

In a message, the chief minister extended felicitations to the Sikhs on the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak. His teachings reflected tolerance, the dignity of people, equal rights, interfaith harmony and help to the needy, Parvez Elahi said and welcomed members of the Sikh community on their arrival in Punjab.

The Punjab government had provided the best facilities to the Sikh community to participate in Baba Guru Nanak’s birthday celebrations and perform religious rituals, he said and noted that the establishment of the Kartarpur corridor was a historical achievement and a gift to the Sikh community. There were numerous holy places of the Sikh community in Pakistan, including Punjab and they had complete freedom to live according to their faith, he added.

Alongside this, special attention had been paid to the maintenance, renovation and security of Gurdwaras of the Sikh community, the CM concluded.

Meanwhile, Pervaiz Elahi took notice of rape-cum-murder of a five-year-old child in Nowshera Virkan.

The chief minister sought a report from Regional Police Officer (RPO) Gujranwala about the tragic incident and ordered for arresting the accused at the earliest and initiating legal action against him. He ordered for ensuring justice to the bereaved family. The CM also extended sympathies to the bereaved family and expressed his heartfelt sympathies and condoled with the affected family.