Govt pledges support for G-B development

On Wednesday, Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the development of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) as a crucial step toward overall economic growth. The minister made this statement while chairing a meeting of the Committee on the issues of G-B, as per a press release issued by the finance ministry.

Aurangzeb expressed appreciation for the well-thought-out proposals presented during the meeting and underscored the importance of reforming G-B’s administrative and fiscal frameworks. He noted that these reforms are essential for the welfare of the local population and for boosting tourism.

According to the press release, the meeting began with a detailed briefing by the chief secretary, who outlined the challenges faced by the G-B government. Some of these challenges include insufficient fund allocations and delays in Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) projects, leading to employee-related and other liabilities. The chief secretary advocated for solar power projects to address the region’s growing energy needs and proposed initiatives for digitising land records and expanding airports to enhance tourism potential.

These proposals aim to modernise G-B’s infrastructure and leverage its natural beauty to further contribute to the region’s economic development. The meeting was attended by notable figures, including Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Engineer Amir Muqam; Minister for Finance G-B, Muhammad Ismail; Minister for Agriculture G-B, Mohammad Anwar; former chief minister of G-B, Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman; the chief secretary of G-B; a member of WAPDA; and other officials from relevant ministries. APP