Gilgit: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain has announced that Rs7 billion has been allocated under the Youth Development Programme to provide better educational, training and development opportunities to young people across the region.

Speaking to students, teachers and civil society representatives during his visit to the Hunza Campus of Karakoram International University, the chief minister highlighted the importance of scholarship programmes in tourism and hospitality.

He said the initiative would help promote Gilgit-Baltistan as an international tourism destination while creating better employment opportunities for local youth.

Amjad Hussain said Gilgit-Baltistan had enormous potential for growth in tourism and other sectors. He stressed the need to provide international visitors with excellent hospitality and make effective use of the region's natural resources, describing these efforts as a key responsibility of the government.

Emphasising the importance of young people, the chief minister said the youth were the future of the region and that the government was committed to bringing education, professional training and development opportunities closer to them.

He expressed confidence that young people, through hard work and dedication, would achieve success internationally and bring recognition to Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan.

The chief minister also urged students to prioritise education and devote their time and energy to academic pursuits. He said that commitment, discipline and hard work would enable them to build a brighter future and achieve significant success in their professional lives.

He reaffirmed that providing quality education, addressing youth-related issues on a priority basis and ensuring access to development opportunities were among the government's key priorities. He added that all available resources would be utilised to achieve these objectives.