Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said that Gilgit-Baltistan is gifted with many natural resources and can be exploited by attracting foreign investment to bring prosperity for its people. The Prime Minister expressed these views while chairing the second meeting of Gilgit-Baltistan Council in his capacity as Chairman here on Thursday.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan People's Party (PPP) always keeps the need of people of Gilgit-Baltistan and their betterment in mind while taking decisions. It was Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who abolished FCR in Gilgit-Baltistan and introduced substantial administrative, judicial and political reforms, he added.
He said that government took concrete measures to involve the people of Gilgit-Baltistan in socio-economic development and political empowerment. He said that one such milestone is to introduce Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self Governance) Order 2009, which provided representative government to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Prime Minister said that government is taking keen interest in the development of Gilgit-Baltistan and a substantial amount of development funds has been allocated to Gilgit-Baltistan Government in this regard. The current Annual Development Programme projects comprise 572 schemes of Gilgit-Baltistan amount to 64.648 billion. He further said that Projects worth Rs 9.213 billion being funded through Federal PSDP are under implementation in the area. In the current fiscal year a block allocation of Rs 7.137 billion has been made for Gilgit-Baltistan Government over and above the PSDP allocation of Rs 902 million, he added.
The Prime Minister said that construction of Diamer-Basha Dam, besides generation of 4,500 Mega Watts of electric power, would also help mitigate floods, improve living conditions and create employment opportunities in Gilgit-Baltistan. He expressed satisfaction that Minister-in-Charge Gilgit-Baltistan Council is working in close collaboration with the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, on matters relating to compensation of land acquired for the Diamer-Basha Dam project.
The Prime Minister expressed concern over the delay in starting the development schemes sponsored by the Council Members for want of timely completion of procedures by the concerned departments in Gilgit-Baltistan Government. "I am confident these schemes would be initiated during current fiscal year."
The Prime Minister expressed resolve to take all possible steps for eradicating poverty from the Gilgit-Baltistan. "I have a firm belief that the Council and the Government together can make a difference; both can join hands to herald a change in Gilgit-Baltistan. The ultimate goal of socio-economic emancipation of the people was and is our priority," he said.
Minister for Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo presented the Budget of the Council for the year 2012-13. He apprised that Total revenue targets for the year are Rs 535.825 million while total expenditure budgeted for the year 2012-13 is Rs 761.167 million including development expenditure estimates of Rs 330.000 million and non-development expenditure amounting to Rs 431.167 million.
The Minister further informed that the Government of Pakistan has allowed Ad-hoc Relief Allowances, 2012 @ of 20 percent on the running pay and other increase in pay, allowance, etc to its employees with effect from 1st July 2012. The same increases/percentage are also admissible to the employees of Gilgit-Baltistan Council with effect from 1st July 2012.
The meeting while approving the Budget of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council for the year 2012-13 asked the concerned authorities to work out modalities of proposed income tax in consultation with all stakeholders and put minimum burden on the taxpayers. The meeting also passed Gilgit-Baltistan Council, Validation Ordinance, 2012 (Adaptation) Bill, 2012. The Bill was presented in the Council as a consequence of the Order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan dated 19th June 2012 passed in Constitution Petitions No 40, etc of 2012 and Disqualification Notification as Member of the National Assembly issued by Election Commission of Pakistan on 19th June 2012.
The meeting was attended by Pir Karam Ali Shah Vice- Chairman GB Council, Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo Minister for Kashmir Affairs & GB, Syed Mehdi Shah Chief Minister GB, Mir Changez Khan Jamali Minister for Science & Technology, Muhammad Jahangir Badar Senator/Member GB Council, Aftab Shaban Mirani MNA/ Member GB Council, Muhammad Tariq Tarar MNA/Member GB Council, Engr Usman Khan Tarakai MNA/Member GB Council, Ms Mehreen Anwar Raja MNA / Member GB Council, Professor Ghulam Hussain Saleem Member GB Council, Ibadat Ali Member GB Council, Kamran Ali Qureshi Secretary Kashmir Affairs & GB, Sajjad Saleem Hotiana Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan, Muhammad Ibrahim Member GB Council, Amjad Hussain Member GB Council, Saeed Afzal Member GB Council, Attaullah Khan Member GB Council and other senior officers.
Earlier in a ceremony, the Prime Minister administered oath to the newly nominated Advisors of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council. The newly nominated Advisors included Professor Ghulam Hussain Saleem Member GB Council, Saeed Afzal Member GB Council and Attaullah Khan Member GB Council.-PR