PML-N President Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday vowed that, if elected, the party would focus on development in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

The remarks come ahead of the GB Assembly elections scheduled for June 7, with other parties also ramping up their preparations. Nawaz made the comments in a televised address to the PML-N’s parliamentary board for GB, where he highlighted past projects launched by the party in the region.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, his younger brother, had the “same passion” for developing GB as him, noting that the region had massive potential.

The former premier highlighted road projects “worth $60-$65 billion”, adding that “24-hour journeys were reduced to 10 hours”. He recalled facing criticism for having a tunnel constructed in Chitral as it was sparsely populated.

Referring to the initiatives undertaken by PM Shehbaz during his time as the Punjab chief minister, and now by his daughter Maryam, Nawaz told the party members: “You should copy it, and all these things should be launched in GB as well.”

The PML-N supremo said: “He (Shehbaz) launched numerous projects during his time. Look at him, find out about them. […] And now Maryam has taken the responsibility to take his work forward, so see what is happening there. You should copy it.”

In a message to all the PML-N candidates, Nawaz said, “When your candidates are elected, God-willing, they must have this in mind that they have been elected for service, not for fun.”

He further said that if the party formed a government in GB, he would invite the regional leadership. “You may call Shehbaz Sharif sahib, I will also come with him. All of us sitting here will come, and will make efforts to resolve your issues.”

Nawaz asserted that GB “is as dear to me as the rest of Pakistan is, and as Azad Kashmir, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and KP are”. Noting that both Centre and Punjab were active in development, he called on the rest of the provinces to do the same.

“Politics is not that elections happen and we approve candidates […] those [elected] should do something, not sit like kings and travel in government vehicles,” he said.

At one point, Nawaz also took aim at the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for the lack of good governance despite “15 years” in power.

“What is happening there? Is anyone living there with no worries? Is anyone getting chance to live according to their aspirations?” he asked.

He added that the public “knew much better” where people were receiving free health facilities and medicines, public transport and quality education.

“What I am saying is very valid, and not coming from an angle of criticism, but I am forced to say this, my heart urges me to ask why these things are not being done.”

The PML-N supremo praised PM Shehbaz’s leadership and the roles played by Deputy PM Ishaq Dar and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir in recent weeks on the diplomatic front.

“These are historic roles,” he said.

During his address, Nawaz also urged the GB government to find ways to generate funds itself, instead of “only looking towards the federal government” for support.

“People from around the world want to visit Skardu and Hunza, so you should also put in some part in that,” he said, highlighting the region’s potential for tourism.

“Your budget should not only go into people’s pockets but also be used on the ground [for public],” the ex-PM emphasised.

He noted that the current economic situation was “not good”, with rising oil prices due to the Middle East conflict and development funds being pooled into absorbing the resulting economic shock.

However, the PML-N president pledged that any lack of funds would be provided by the Centre.

“Whatever we can do, we will provide it to you. I will be your biggest advocate. I will take money from Shehbaz sahib and give it to you.”

Stating that constructing motorways was “no favour”, he asserted: “Whether it is the development field, political field, or defence field, we have strongly fulfilled our role.

“Who knows GB more than PML-N? You all yourself are an example of the services we have rendered,” Nawaz remarked.

Last week, a high-level delegation of the PML-N from GB met federal ministers Rana Sanaullah and Engineer Amir Muqam to discuss various aspects of the elections.

It was agreed to field strong, capable, and popular candidates in all constituencies, while accelerating and streamlining the election campaign.

Sanaullah and Muqam had reiterated that the party would continue to advance its agenda of development, public service, and prosperity in GB.

Meanwhile, the PPP, which just months ago formed a government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, has also become active in the election arena.

A delegation comprising senior leaders, including Nayyer Hussain Bukhari and Qamar Zaman Kaira, is set to head to GB to conduct interviews of candidates.

PTI’s reacts

Following Nawaz’s address, the PTI reacted to his remarks about governance in KP. The party said in a statement that it rejected Nawaz’s remarks, terming them “completely contrary to ground realities and a failed attempt at diverting the people’s attention from real issues”.

Noting that the PML-N had formed government in Punjab multiple times, the PTI alleged that there was a lack of clean water and health and educational facilities in both the province’s rural and urban areas.

“The people have not been given anything except projects that are just for the show and advertising campaigns. Had [the Punjab government’s] performance been exemplary, the people of Punjab would not be facing inflation, unemployment and mismanagement today,” the PTI alleged.

It said the health system in Punjab was in “severe crisis” and a rise was seen in the cases of infectious diseases, particularly HIV/AIDs. This, the party alleged, was proof of the provincial government’s inefficiency and faulty policies.