President Asif Ali Zardari has felicitated Governor Gilgit-Baltistan Pir Syed Karam Ali Shah, Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah and the people of Gilgit-Baltistan on 66th Independence Day of Gilgit-Baltistan.
In his felicitation message, the President paid rich tributes to the valiant struggle of those brave sons of the soil who revolted against the despotism of Dogra rule and even sacrificed their lives for the noble cause of winning their independence.
The President on the occasion reiterated the Government’s commitment to continue undertaking every effort for the socio-economic uplift of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. He said that it was indeed a great honour that PPP government and reforms and emancipation of the people of the area were interlinked.
Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar added that first major administrative, judicial and political reforms in the area were introduced and Jagirdari Nizam abolished in 1975 during the government of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Further democratisation of the area was effected during the government of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto through the Northern Areas Legal Framework Order 1994. The third instalment of major reforms order (Gilgit –Baltistan Empowerment and Self governance Order 2009) was signed by President Asif Ali Zardari in September 2009 introducing far reaching administrative, political, financial and judicial reforms in the Northern Areas.
