GILGIT / ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that the federal government is actively working to support the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and the region`s development is among its top priorities.

The prime minister said this while chairing a special meeting of the GB cabinet after he arrived in Gilgit for a daylong visit. He was accompanied by federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Attaullah Tarar, Amir Muqam, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and other officials.

PM Shehbaz announced an immediate allocation of 100 megawatts of power for Gilgit-Baltistan and a Rs1 billion merit-based endowment fund for Baltistan University and Karakoram University students.

He expressed satisfaction over the timely completion of Bubar ModelVillage, a housing project for those displaced by the 2022 floods, which he had inaugurated previously.

The premier directed the GilgitBaltistan administration to develop educational institutions, sports facilities, power transmission infrastructure and other essential amenities in the Ghizer district. He also announced the establishment of Daanish Schools in Gilgit-Baltistan, modelled after those in Punjab.

Recalling his tenure as Punjab chief minister, Mr Sharif highlighted his government`s Rsibn contribution to Gilgit-Baltistan`s education sector.

He stressed the importance of federal-provincial cooperation in achieving economic stability.

The prime minister told the participants that the stock exchange had crossed the 92,000 mark, and rising remittances, an increase in tax return filers and a reduction in inflation have all contributed positively to the national economy.He praised the collaborative efforts of all provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan in driving national progress, and highlighted his government`s special focus on the development of GilgitBaltistan, the merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly Fata) and Balochistan.

PM Shehbaz also mentioned the Qatari government`s interest in investing in Gilgit-Baltistan`s tourism sector. Federal ministers, GB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan, GB cabinet members and senior officers attended the meeting.

Earlier in the day, the premier inaugurated new homes for the victims of the 2022 floods in Buber village of Ghizer district.

Speaking on the occasion, he recalled his last visit to the area during the 2022 floods and the devastation at that time. He expressed satisfaction with the new housing but recommended third-party validation to ensure quality standards are met.

He also directed the administration to immediately begin construction on a school, playground and dispensary equipped with essential medical facilities, including ultrasound and X-ray machines.

He instructed the education minister to oversee the school`s construction and called for installing chimneys in the new homes to safeguard residents from smoke exposure.

Governor Syed Mehdi Shah also met the prime minister to discuss regional issues. Chief Minister Gulbar Khan presented the prime minister with traditional Balti robes and a cap. PM Shehbaz also laid a floral wreath and offered prayers at the Yadgar-i-Shuhada in the Chief Minister`s Secretariat.

PM reassures China of enhanced security Later, the prime minister visitedthe Chinese Embassy in Islamabad to condemn a firing incident in Karachi on Tuesday in which two Chinese nationals were injured and assured exemplary punishment to those involved in the incident.

Talking to Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong, PM Shehbaz said he came to condemn the attack on Chinese nationals and to inquire about the health of those injured in the incident, the Prime Minister`s Office said in a statement after the meeting.

This visit follows a period of tension after Ambassador Jiang voiced strong concerns over the safety of Chinese nationals in Pakistan, prompting a rare response from the Pakistani Foreign Office.

The recent escalation in violence against Chinese nationals has amplified Beijing`s se curity concerns, especially over progress on ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

Speaking at the event `China at 75: A Journey of Progress,Transformation and Global Leadership` on Nov 1, the Chinese ambassador expressed frustration over the attacks, stating that it was `unacceptable` and urging the Pakistani government to strengthen security measures for Chinese nationals and crack down on antiChina elements.

During Wednesday`s meeting, PM Shehbaz reassured the Chinese ambassador of Pakistan`s commitment to safeguarding Chinese citizens and informed him that the best possible medical care was being provided to the injured, whose health is reportedly improving.

He reiterated that China remains a close and trusted ally and described the Karachi attack as a `desperate attempt` to strain Pakistan-China relations.

The prime minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi.