ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday changed the status of its Northern Areas comprising the former princely states of Hunza, Gilgit, Baltistan, Shigar, Skardu, Diamir, Ghizer and Ghanche.
Following the partition of the Indian sub-continent, the rulers of the Northern Areas, as per their choice, joined Pakistan rejecting India’s claim of them as a part of Kashmir.
The Northern Areas link Pakistan with the People’s Republic of China at Sust border. In this respect, Pakistan and the People’s Republic of China signed a boundary treaty in 1963.
After the Cabinet’s approval of the status change, Prime Minister Sayed Yousaf Raza Gilani told a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday that the government has fulfilled its commitment by empowering the people of the Northern Areas by approving the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self Governance Order 2009.
The prime minister said that elections for the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly would be held on schedule under the new Governance Order 2009. He also hoped council members would play their role in the strengthening of democratic institutions and the new administrative setup, adding that the decision would greatly benefit the masses.
The prime minister also congratulated delegation members on behalf of the cabinet and the whole nation.
The delegation members also invited the prime minister to visit Gilgit-Baltistan.
Gilani said that he would soon visit the area to personally felicitate the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and would announce a comprehensive package for these areas. Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for KANA Qamar Zaman Kaira termed the decision a great achievement. He thanked the prime minister and the cabinet on behalf of the people of the Northern Areas.
The delegation, on behalf of the people of Gilgat-Baltistan, thanked the prime minister and the cabinet for the historic decision.
They also appreciated the personal efforts of Federal Minister for KANA Qamar Zaman Kaira in this regard.
Saturday’s decision by the Pakistan government will certainly create global repercussions, according to experts of international law.
Though the Northern Areas are not a disputed region between India and Pakistan, India has always held reservations over the Sino-Pak border treaty.
