Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the current state of infrastructure in Gilgit Baltistan and promised renewed focus on development projects in the region.

Speaking at a rally in Gilgit ahead of the June 7 election, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president said he was “saddened” by the poor condition of roads and other basic facilities around Gilgit.

“The projects our government initiated here should have been completed long ago. Where was the money spent?” he asked, highlighting unfulfilled development plans from previous years.

Sharif emphasised that the Karakoram Highway extension from Gilgit to Khunjerab, which was initiated during his tenure, should have been completed now, adding, “Whether you give my party votes or not, we cannot deprive you of these facilities.”

The former prime minister also assured the public that he would continue monitoring local projects personally.

“I will be visiting every two to three months to oversee progress. I will also ask Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz to ensure the airport here is upgraded to accommodate large Boeing aircraft,” he said.

Sharif recalled his past contributions to the region, stating that during PML-N’s tenure, extensive road networks, hospitals, and hydropower projects were initiated.

He highlighted that travel time between Gilgit and Skardu had been reduced from nine hours to approximately three hours, providing significant relief to local residents.

“Perhaps some of you have forgotten me, but my love for Gilgit-Baltistan remains unchanged,” he said, adding that no other political party had undertaken comparable projects in the area.

The PML-N leader urged the federal government to prioritise the upgrade of Gilgit Airport to accommodate larger aircraft, ensuring smoother travel and better connectivity for the region.

Earlier, Sharif arrived in Gilgit via plane, where he was welcomed by Federal Minister Amir Maqeem, former Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister Hafiz Hafeez-ur-Rehman, and other senior PML-N leaders, including Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah, Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, Punjab Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, Senator Anusha Rahman, and Kazim Pirzada.

It may be mentioned that voting for 24 seats of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections is scheduled for June 7.