GILGIT, Aug 2: The Gilgit-Baltistan government has banned recruitment in government departments for one year, according to a notification issued here on Wednesday.

Officials of the GB administration said that the ban had been imposed owing to paucity of funds. The ban would affect the process of filling vacant posts created recently in various departments.

Meanwhile, people belonging to various walks of life have denounced the imposition of ban, saying that the government had shut the door of employment for the people, who often looked to jobs for livelihood.

Local Jamaat-i-Islami leaders said that they would stage protests to press the government for withdrawal of the notification.

Parliamentary secretary Rehmat Khaliq said in a statement that the ban could create problems for both the government and people.

THREE KILLED: Three people died when an overloaded jeep plunged into Indus River here on Wednesday night at Jomoshan in Skardu, police said.

They said that the jeep was going to Iskoli Shigar from Skardu city when it met the accident. The police identified those killed as driver Husna and passengers Hassan and Mohmmad.

They said that body of Hassan had been recovered, while search for others was underway. —Correspondent