Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday inaugurated and performed the groundbreaking of multiple development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan, including renewable energy initiatives, Safe City projects and the establishment of Daanish Schools, while distributing free solar panels, laptops and business loan cheques among the youth.

Addressing a ceremony in Gilgit, the prime minister said the government was committed to ensuring equitable development across all regions of Pakistan, stressing that progress would remain incomplete without the uplift of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

PM Shehbaz inaugurated a 100-megawatt solar power project for the region and launched the distribution of 58MW worth of free solar panels among domestic and commercial consumers under a transparent digital balloting system.

He said more than 50,000 applications were received, of which around 15,000 beneficiaries were selected purely on merit.

The prime minister directed authorities to complete the solar project by mid-2027, saying the initiative would significantly ease energy shortages in the mountainous region, particularly during harsh winters.

He also revealed that confiscated solar panels in a fraud case had been redirected for free distribution among the people of Gilgit-Baltistan instead of being auctioned.

Highlighting education reforms, the prime minister laid the foundation stones of four Daanish Schools in Sultanabad, Bunji, Ghanche and Skardu. The institutions are aimed at providing state-of-the-art educational facilities to underprivileged children.

He directed authorities to ensure uniform standards, merit-based recruitment of local teachers and modern facilities, including e-libraries, smart classrooms, free meals and boarding facilities.

“These schools will offer opportunities to talented children from humble backgrounds to excel and compete at national and international levels,” he said, adding that education for girls would be completely free in these institutions.

The prime minister also inaugurated Gilgit Safe City Project Phase-II and announced the Skardu Safe City project, directing authorities to ensure the system matches and surpasses the standards of Lahore’s Safe City network.

During the ceremony, PM Shehbaz distributed laptops under the Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme to high-achieving students and provided cheques under the Prime Minister’s Youth Agriculture and Business Loan Scheme to promote entrepreneurship.

He praised the resilience and determination of Gilgit-Baltistan’s youth, saying the laptops were not a favour but recognition of their hard work.

“The laptops and business and agriculture loan cheques provided to the youth under Prime Minister’s Youth Programme have been given purely on merit,” he said.

The prime minister reiterated that all selections under government schemes were made strictly on merit without political influence.

Turning to the regional situation, PM Shehbaz said Pakistan had played a pivotal role in brokering a ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

“Pakistan played a pivotal role in brokering a ceasefire between the US and Iran,” he said, expressing confidence that the role “will be remembered in history in golden words.”

He also lauded the efforts of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for helping avert a prolonged regional conflict.

Earlier, a contingent of Gilgit-Baltistan Police presented a guard of honour to the prime minister, who also interacted with students attending the ceremony.

Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Affairs Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan said the premier had inaugurated record development projects in the region, including the solarisation initiative that would install 18MW systems on 499 buildings in the first phase and 82MW solar parks across three divisions in the next phase.

Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam termed the projects a major step toward improving living standards and said the prime minister had consistently stood with the people during natural disasters.

Minister for Energy Awais Leghari said the solar project’s cost had risen from Rs24 billion to Rs32 billion after the inclusion of battery storage systems, enabling uninterrupted electricity supply and expanding the number of beneficiaries from 600,000 to more than 1.3 million people.

Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah said the Daanish Schools would provide education comparable to elite institutions such as Aitchison College, particularly benefiting children from low-income families.

Federal ministers Attaullah Tarar and Abdul Aleem Khan also accompanied the prime minister during the visit, while Governor Syed Mehdi Shah and Chief Minister Yar Mohammad were present on the occasion.