Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to visit Gilgit-Baltistan today (November 1) to take part in the region’s 79th Independence Day commemorations, marking the historic day the people of the region ended Dogra rule in 1947 and acceded to Pakistan.
The expected visit follows a high-level review meeting the prime minister chaired in Islamabad on Friday, where he ordered federal ministries to accelerate development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan and make sure funds reach the schemes on time. The meeting also paid tribute to the people of the region ahead of the anniversary.
What the October 30 review meeting decided
Chairing the meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz Sharif directed the relevant ministries and departments to remove every administrative and financial bottleneck slowing down federal development schemes in Gilgit-Baltistan. He stressed that adequate funding and close coordination among institutions were essential so projects finish on schedule rather than slipping year after year.
A major focus of the review was energy. The prime minister specifically instructed the authorities to complete the federal government’s 100-megawatt solar power project for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan at the earliest, a scheme meant to ease the region’s long-standing electricity shortages. Progress on hydropower, infrastructure and other solar projects was also reviewed, including the Naltar Power Project.
Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain attended the meeting as a special participant. Federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Abdul Aleem Khan, Musadik Malik, Attaullah Tarar, Shaza Fatima and Sardar Awais Leghari were present, along with advisers Rana Sanaullah and Muhammad Ali. A committee report prepared in July 2026 on the prime minister’s instructions — examining the progress of federal schemes, the obstacles in their way and the steps needed to finish them — was also presented.
The prime minister said the development of Gilgit-Baltistan, the provision of basic facilities to its people and the improvement of their standard of living remain among the federal government’s key priorities.
Why November 1 matters to Gilgit-Baltistan
November 1 holds a special place in the region’s history. On this day in 1947, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan rose against Dogra rule, ending the administration of the Dogra rulers and paving the way for the region’s accession to Pakistan. The date is observed every year as the region’s Independence Day, with official ceremonies, flag-hoisting events and public gatherings across Gilgit, Skardu and other towns.
Friday’s meeting formally acknowledged that history, paying tribute to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan for their struggle against Dogra rule and their decision to join Pakistan — a legacy that continues to shape the region’s identity and its relationship with the federation. The celebrations typically include parades, cultural performances and tributes to the local heroes of 1947, with the region’s distinctive music and dance on display in Gilgit and Skardu.
The projects on the table
Beyond the 100-megawatt solar scheme, the review covered a broad portfolio of federal work in the region: hydropower generation, road and communications infrastructure, renewable energy and measures to expand digital infrastructure. The Naltar Power Project came up for specific review, alongside steps to strengthen counterterrorism capabilities in the region. Reliable power and better roads matter enormously in a mountainous region where winters are harsh and many valleys still face long load-shedding hours — issues that come up in almost every local conversation about development.
Officials briefed the prime minister that several initiatives were nearing completion, but the message from the top was clear: paperwork and inter-departmental delays should no longer decide the pace of work in Gilgit-Baltistan. With the prime minister himself expected to walk the region’s streets on its Independence Day, the federal government appears keen to show that its development promises are moving from announcements to delivery.
For the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, the anniversary carries a double meaning this year — pride in the freedom won in 1947, and a test of how quickly the development commitments made in Islamabad translate into electricity, roads and services in the mountains. Read more on recent GB developments: Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Passes Local Government Act 2026, Clearing Way for First Local Polls in Over 20 Years.
What to watch today
All eyes will be on whether the prime minister’s visit goes ahead as planned and what new announcements, if any, accompany the Independence Day celebrations. Any groundbreakings or inaugurations during the visit would signal which of Friday’s directives the government intends to move on first — with the 100-megawatt solar project the most likely candidate given the explicit order for its early completion.
Sources: APP via Tez Khabar, Radio Pakistan via Daily Imroz.
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