The historic elections

With a democratic government in GB, the local people would have good governance, more employment opportunities with initiation of work on several development projects including new hydel power plants, agriculture, fruit processing, expansion of Gilgit and Skardu airports, and expansion of Karakoram Highway from Khunjerab to Raikot which will also increase Pakistan's border trade with China. The elections held on November 12, 2009 monitored by the judiciary, independent observers and media persons were efficiently and peacefully conducted by the Gilgit-Baltistan administration, despite the region being stricken by violent sectarianism. The object was to introduce a new administrative system first in the region and then hold polls in order to bring in a genuine and representative government to lead a democratic administration in GB. The onset of winter season was a major factor to hold the elections n November. The ensuing winter and heavy snowfall creates major communication and mobility problems and this would have delayed the whole electoral process considerably at least until April 2010.
The writer is a freelance columnist.