GILGIT: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Qamar Zaman Kaira has said despite financial crisis the federal government was providing funds for Gilgit-Baltistan without any delay.

He said the federal government had no intention to destabilise the GB government.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Kaira said the federal government had released funds for development projects and purchasing subsidised wheat for GB.

“As adviser to the prime minister along with GB Governor Syed Mehdi Shah, I recently met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss GB’s issues,” he said.

In the meeting, the prime minister suggested to ensure release of funds for purchase of wheat for GB.

He said the prime minister also directed to solve GB people’s issues on a priority basis.

He said a mechanism was being formulated in consultation with all stakeholders to provide targeted subsidised wheat to GB people.

He said under the mechanism, only low income people would be given the subsidised wheat.

“Consultation with concerned stakeholders are underway to develop a sustainable plan for price rationalisation of wheat,” he said.

He said the powers to implement PSDP projects had already been transferred to the GB government.

Mr Kaira rejected the claims by PTI government of GB that funds for development projects and wheat purchase had been delayed.

In reply to a question, he said majority of political parties in the region were in favour of holding the GB assembly elections with the general elections in Pakistan.

Mr Kaira said the GB assembly can be dissolved before completion of its tenure only with the consent of the assembly and political parties of the region. He however said the federal government had no any plan to dissolve the GB assembly.

He said the prime minister had approved Rs2.50 billion for purchase of 26,666 metric tonnes wheat for March and April this year to meet GB’s urgent requirements.

Earlier, GB Chief minister Khalid Khurshid Khan had alleged that the federal government was not releasing funds for annual development projects, PSD projects and purchasing subsidised wheat and paying liabilities to contractors.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2023