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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Friday said socio-economic development of Gilgit-Baltistan was a priority of the government and an amount of Rs 52.3 billion has been earmarked in the ADP for 563 schemes.
The Prime Minister who is also the Chairman of Gilgit-Baltistan Council addressing the second Budget Session of Council here at the PM House said a considerable amount of development funds has been provided to the government by the federal government.
He said the overall size of ongoing ADP projects in Gilgit-Baltistan (comprising 563 schemes) was about Rs 52.3 billion while projects worth Rs 13.2 billion are being funded through Federal PSDP.
He said an allocation of Rs 6.076 billion has been made for Gilgit-Baltistan government over and above the PSDP allocation of Rs 1.58 billion for the current financial year.
The prime minister told the meeting attended by Minister in-charge, Gilgit-Baltistan Council Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, Vice Chairman and Governor Pir Karam Ali Shah, Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah and members of the Council, that the Gilgit-Baltistan government was fully autonomous in running its affairs.
PM Gilani said introduction of Income Tax in Gilgit-Baltistan would be an important step towards financial autonomy through mobilisation of domestic resources.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Council has been assigned legislative and executive powers over 53 subjects. He said both the Gilgit-Baltistan government and the council, remaining within their respective domains, need to work in close coordination and complete harmony to ensure the welfare of the people of area.
He said the Council and the government need to jointly chalk out policies and plans in the fields of minerals, forest, tourism and energy to tap the resources of Gilgit-Baltistan to the fullest extent.
Mr Gilani said Gilgit-Baltistan has vast potential in power generation, tourism, mines and minerals. The mega hydro-power projects such as Diamer-Basha Dam were extremely vital for country's energy and food security.
The dam, on completion, will have the capacity to generate 4500 mw of electricity and store 8.1 maf of water.
He said the project will generate vast opportunities of employment for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and its multiple benefits for economy cannot be quantified.
He said the construction of Diamer-Basha dam occupies central place in government's efforts to find a long-term solution to the problem of energy deficit in the country.
Gilani said the government also plans to initiate work on Bunji Dam with a power generation capacity of 11,000 mw. Apart from these mega hydro projects, work on different small hydro power projects was also under way, he added.
He said China was Pakistan's major ally and an important trade partner. He said the trade with China has been adversely affected due to submersion of a part of Korakoram Highway under Atta-abad Lake.
“We are working to develop an alternate artery not only to revive the quantum of trade with China to its previous level but also to raise it even further.”
