ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Defence Committee Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Thursday said that Gilgit-Baltistan is an important unit of Pakistan strategically as well as politically and economically which needs special attention.

In the current context, he said Gilgit-Baltistan is also pivotal for Pakistan's relations with China, particularly in the context of the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor.

He was addressing a capacity building workshop for the members of Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly and Council organized by Association of Global Humanists and Ethics (AGHE Pakistan) here.

A delegation of 27 members of the GB Assembly led by the Speaker, Wazir Beg, participated in the workshop.

Senator Mushahid Hussain,who is also Chairman of the Pakistan-China Institute,said that Gilgit-Baltistan is a neighbour of the Chinese autonomous region of Xinjiang.

He said that China has been involved in development of the region, while recently earmarking billions of dollars for mining, dam building, and industrial and telecom growth. He urged for the establishment of a special industrial security force for the safety of Chinese workers and projects in GB and other provinces of Pakistan all along the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor.

He said that Senate Defence Committee has taken a unique initiative to propose parliamentary dialogue on security issues between Pakistan and China which is scheduled to be held in Kashgir in May 2014. He was of the view that Pak-China Economic Corridor and the Central Asia Economic Belt announced by China's President Xi Jinping will have positive effect on GB as it has lot of potential due to its richness in energy, mineral, tourism and other natural resources.

He also offered to host meetings in parliament to highlight the legitimate case and grievances of the people and parliamentarians of Gilgit-Baltistan.

(APP)