GILGIT: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government will present the proposed reforms bill for Gilgit-Baltistan in the next National Assembly session for endorsement to introduce political, administrative and judicial reforms in GB through an act of parliament.

This was stated by Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Khan Gandapur while talking to reporters the other day.

He said the reforms in GB would be introduced in light of the Supreme Court judgment and in consultation with all the stakeholders.

He said that the foreign office and other stakeholders had opposed declaring GB as provisional province of Pakistan as they felt that this could affect the Kashmir issue.

“We are consulting with all the stakeholders in this regard. First time the PTI government will introduce governance system in GB through an act of Parliament rather than executive orders,” the minister said.

When asked whether GB people would be granted representation in the parliament, the minister said if GB was not being given provisional status, how they (GB) people would have representation in the parliament of Pakistan.

He said GB people were availing subsidies and making the region as province might end these facilities.

Mr Gandapur said according to the 18th amendment, all powers would be transferred to GB people like other provinces of Pakistan.

Under the new reforms, judicial system in GB and vacancy sharing formula would be equal with rest of the country, he said, adding the legislative powers on four subjects, including minerals, power, tourism and forest, had been shifted from federal government to the local elected assembly.

The federal minister said the government had made no cuts in funding for ongoing PSDP projects in GB.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2019