Gilgit-Baltistan regularises services of 89 doctors

GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain on Tuesday regularised the services of 89 doctors from the region in the first official order he signed after taking charge of his office.

According to a notification issued the same day, the chief minister said the matter had remained unresolved for a long period. Referring to the decision, he said it was taken in the presence of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. “In the presence of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto I have signed the summary and feel happy to make services of 89 doctors regular,” he added.

Hussain said the move would help strengthen the health sector in Gilgit-Baltistan and expressed hope that the doctors would discharge their duties honestly.

Earlier, the chief minister and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari attended a briefing on issues facing Gilgit-Baltistan. The meeting was told that the recent sudden cut in subsidised wheat for the region was causing a serious wheat crisis and that the issue required immediate resolution. Participants were also informed that the lack of an international airport in Gilgit-Baltistan remained a major hurdle to the promotion of tourism in the area.