ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant Chief Minister Punjab Firdous Ashiq Awan has said that people are going to lay the foundation of new Gilgit-Baltistan through ballot papers today.

Firdous Ashiq Awan said in a Twitter message that eradication of sense of deprivation, transfer of power to lower level of government is the first priority, conveying the right to the rightful will be the first priority. Transparent elections will contribute to the development and prosperity of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly elections are taking place today in which the people are seen participating with full enthusiasm. The Election Commission has set up 1,160 polling stations where 7,45,361 voters will exercise their franchise, including 45,350 men and 39,929 women. Voting is going on successfully in 23 out of 24 constituencies.

Three hundred and eleven polling stations in Gilgit-Baltistan have been declared sensitive and 428 highly sensitive. Tens of thousands of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and local police personnel are on duty under tight security arrangements, paramilitary forces are also on duty.