ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said government would continue to play its role in ensuring progress, peace and prosperity of Gilgit-Baltistan. In his message on 76th anniversary of freedom of Gilgit-Baltistan from Dogra rule, he said mainstreaming youth of GB was priority for Pakistan.

Kakar said GB was rich in minerals and natural resources and offered huge potential to become hub of economic growth and tourism.

He stressed need for unity, religious harmony and mutual affinity to ensure prosperous and bright future for Pakistan including Gilgit Baltistan. He felicitated people of GB and said day was significant in history when brave people of Gilgit Baltistan under leadership of Captain Mirza Hassan Khan and Subedar Major Babar resisted Dogra rule.

Their courage forced puppet governor Ghasara Singh to surrender before will of local people for their accession with Pakistan on November 1, 1947, he said.

Kakar said Pakistan deeply values patriotism of people of GB who proved their unconditional and selfless love for Pakistan. These brave people showed enemy that GB was part of Pakistan and would remain forever, he added.

He said people of GB were fortunate to be blessed with freedom, while Muslims in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir still suffered tyranny of Indian authorities.

He mentioned several resolutions were passed by United Nations for resolution of Jammu and Kashmir issue, which he said faced status quo due to unwillingness of India and apathy of international community.

He reiterated Pakistan's solidarity with oppressed people of IIOJK and vowed to continue its political, diplomatic and moral to Kashmiris till they get their right to self-determination in accordance with resolutions of UN Security Council.

He said Pakistan wanted peaceful resolution of both Palestine conflict and Jammu and Kashmir dispute and strongly condemned Israel's unabated violence at land of first Qibla for Muslims.