GILGIT: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said the government would provide cheap loans to people of Gilgit Baltistan so that people could build guest rooms with their houses to accommodate tourists.

“Ehsaas Programme is being launched in Gilgit Baltistan for poor people. This programme is much needed here. Poor families face trouble when a member falls ill,” said Imran Khan while addressing a public gathering in Gilgit.

He said a 250-bed hospital was being constructed in GB. He said all the people of GB will be provided health insurance with the issuance of Sehat Insaaf Cards under which they can get free medical facility at any hospital up to one million rupees.

He also said that a committee would be formed which would immediately initiate work on provincial provisional status of GB, so that the sense of deprivation that had been experienced here was removed.

The prime minister said youth of GB used to ask if they were Pakistani or not.

“No such prime minister has come in the history of Pakistan who has visited all the places. We will try our level best for promotion of tourism in GB,” he said.

He said places for skiing would be developed in GB as the sports could be played for seven months a year in this region.