GILGIT: A resolution tabled in Gilgit-Baltistan Legislation Assembly here on Friday demanded that the federal government declare GB as a tax-free zone on the pattern of Gwadar under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.

The resolution was jointly moved by opposition members Kacho Imtiaz Haider and Javed Hussain. The resolution pointed out that Gwadar had been declared tax-free zone under CPEC and GB should also be given the same status so that poor residents of the region could get some financial benefits from the multibillion dollar project.

Taking part in the discussion opposition lawmaker Nawaz Khan Naji said it would be considered discrimination against the GB people by the centre if the region was not declared a tax-free zone.

“When we demand constitutional rights, it is argued that GB is a disputed territory, but if GB is a disputed region than how FBR rules are applicable here,” he questioned.

Planning minister Iqbal Hassan supported the resolution and said as unemployment was peaking in GB it should be declared tax-free zone.

Ruling PML-N lawmaker Ghulam Hussain said the customs checkpost at the Sust dry port should be established in Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

PPP’s Imran Nadeem Shigri said there should be no taxes on the trade between Pakistan and China through the Sust dry port. Education minister Ibrahim Sanai suggested formation of a parliamentary committee to visit China and Gwadar before considering the issue of declaring GB a tax-free zone. Law minister Aurangeb Khan opposed the resolution and said there were hurdles to making GB a tax-free zone. When the mover of the resolution, Kacho Imtiaz, demanded that the house adopt the resolution unanimously because treasury and opposition members had supported it, the law minister said according to rules of procedure no resolution could be adopted through voting.

Deputy Speaker Jaffarullah Khan, who was chairing the session, said conducting vote on the resolution was his authority, which triggered boycott of the session by opposition members. Later, Jaffarullah announced formation of committee to review the resolution.

Meahwhile, a teenage boy and his minor sister died when a fire erupted at their house in Gilgit.

Rescue 1122 officials told mediapersons that Shah Zaman, 15, and his sister, Rahiba, 7, residents of Baseen locality, were trapped inside their house when it caught fire caused apparently due to electricity short circuit. Rescue officials retrieved the bodies.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2018