CM vows to right off the loans of afftectees

Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Jan.24: (Agencies) Syed Mehdi Shah, newly chief minister Syed Mehdi Shah has said that people of disaster hit areas like Attaabad, Sarat, Ayeenabad and other low lying areas who are affected in either form will be given absolution to the agricultural, small-medium business and national bank loans in order to implement the announcement made by Qamar Zaman Kaira, governor Gilgit-Baltistan during his recent visit to the region.He said the loans alogn with their respective mark ups will be written off through recommendation of legislative assembly as an additional relief by the government. He expressed these views during a meeting with Raja Shehbaz Khan,former member district council here in capital on Friday.Mr. Shehbaz briefed Chief Minister about the dire situation and threat of sinking of many low lying settlements like Ayeen Abad,Shishkat, Hussani due to blocked of Hunza river. Mr. Shehbaz said that in response to his letter to Chinese government, who has given approval of about 13 million rupees. Mr. Mehdi ensured his complete cooperation to facilitate payment from Chinese authorities.

Courtesy: Voice of Hunza

Govt ready to deal with emergency: Mehdi Shah

GBE Monitoring Report
HUNZA, Shishkat, Jan.24:(W.B) The local as well as federal governments are ready to meet the crisis emerging in the cut-off Gojal tehsil due to blockade of the Hunza River and Karakorum Highway. "All out efforts would be made to manage the situation arising due to the blockade of the river after the Atabad landslide," said Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister Mehdi Shah while addressing a public gathering at Shishkat village on Wednesday. Mr Shah said his government was in close contact with the Center as well as the affected communities to deal with any emergency.
He announced setting up of a basic health unit under the People's Primary Health Initiative Programme at Shishkat. Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly speaker Wazir Baig, famous mountaineer Nazir Sabir and government officials were accompanying him during his visit to the village facing threat from the blocked river water.
The chief minister also met with the people of Ayeenabad having immediate threat from formation of the lake. The people urged the chief minister to save the houses and properties of the 30 families of the village from inundation, weekly Baang reports.

Chinese engineers reach as the Khujerab border opens;

additional equipment and personnel to due soon
VoH Report
HUNZA, Sost,Shiskat,Jan. 23: (Rahmet Amin) As many as thirty Chinese engineer reached Sost on Friday to release water blocked on Hunza river following land slide menace that inundated the Karakorum High Way (KKH) the only mean to connect both Upper and Central Hunza and the sole land trade route Pakistan and china. The engineers who are mostly experts of Chinese Bridge and Road Constructions (CBRC), a private Chinese firm working on expansion of Karakorum High Way.

Gates acknowledge presence of black water in the country;

US to provide unarmed Shadow drones to cater need of Pakistan
GBE Watch dog
ISLAMABAD, Jan.24:(Shamsuddin Muhammad) Robert Gates, US
Defence Secretary, during his visit has acknowledged presence of black water in the country. He said this while an interview on a private TV channel on Friday evening, here in Islamabad. Mr. Gates said that US will provide unarmed Shadow drones to cater need of Pakistan. He said such equipments are indispensable for Pakistan for intelligence and reconnaissance purposes in order to counter terrorism. He said there was no
such proposal under consideration for Afghan forces’ training by India. Talking on Indo-Pak relations, he said the countries should deal with issues bilaterally. “I have raised Pakistani concerns over Indian involvement in Pakistan’s internal affairs," he added.