Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed federal ministries and departments to accelerate ongoing development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan and ensure timely funding for their completion. The prime minister issued the instructions while chairing a review meeting in Islamabad on Friday 30 October, at which a committee established in July 2026 presented its report on the status of federal development schemes, the obstacles affecting implementation and recommendations for timely completion.

A major focus was the federal government's 100-megawatt solar energy project, which the prime minister directed the authorities to complete at the earliest. The meeting also examined progress on the Naltar Power Project, and the prime minister instructed relevant ministries and institutions to ensure timely fund releases, improve coordination and remove implementation hurdles on a priority basis. Hydropower, infrastructure and solar energy initiatives were all reviewed, alongside measures to strengthen counter-terrorism capabilities and expand digital infrastructure, including Safe City systems, across the region.

A visit timed to 1 November

The meeting also paid tribute to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan ahead of 1 November, which marks the region's liberation from Dogra rule in 1947 and its subsequent accession to Pakistan. The prime minister is expected to visit the region on the occasion to participate in the commemorations and review development initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure, energy supplies and public services.

The prime minister said the development of Gilgit-Baltistan, the provision of basic facilities and the improvement of living standards remain priorities for the federal government. For residents, the test of the meeting will be practical: whether funds are released on time, whether the solar and hydropower projects reach completion, and whether the bottlenecks identified by the July committee are actually removed.