GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) government on Thursday presented an annual budget of over Rs63.64 billion for 2018-19, allocating Rs31.64bn for non-development and Rs32.26bn for development schemes.

The budget was presented by Senior Minister Akbar Taban in the GB Legislative Assembly session chaired by Deputy Speaker Jafarullah Khan. The overall budget has increased by 11 per cent from Rs54bn.

Taban said that the Public Sector Development Programme has an outlay of more than Rs7.9bn and the development budget includes Rs6.59bn for education.

GB government has set aside funds for construction of new school buildings, provision of necessary facilities including drinking water, walls and provision of furniture and upgradation of schools.

The government has also allocated Rs4.23bn to health under which new centres would be established, hospitals and basic health centres would receive machinery, medicines and other necessary facilities.

Similarly, Rs2.03bn have been allocated to boost tourism industry in the region. An amount of Rs41 million has been set aside for forests, Rs40.82m for minerals and Rs4bn for finance department.

With GB continuing to face an energy crisis, finance minister said Rs2.73bn have been allocated for power generation.

He added that Rs90.80m have been allotted for agriculture and livestock, Rs19.42m for food department, and Rs7.9bn for various ongoing and new schemes in GB for 2018-19.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2018