GILGIT, Sept 15 The Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas, Qamar Zaman Kaira, took oath as the first Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan here on Tuesday.

Chief Judge of the Supreme Appellate Court, Justice Mohammad Nawaz Abbasi, administered oath to the governor.

Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Secretary Babar Yaqub read out the Presidential Order for this purpose.

Addressing a press conference, Governor Kaira said the dream of late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto had been realised and a long-standing demand of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan was fulfilled with the enforcement of the Empowerment and Self-Governance Order, 2009.

He said that the name of Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas ministry would be changed soon.

He said the people were happy because they knew the order would usher in a new era of development and ensure democratic rights.

“Democracy in Pakistan is taking roots after a lapse of nine years and the government desires that the people should reap the fruits of democracy,” Mr Kaira, who also holds the information portfolio at the centre, said.

He said Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, as president of Pakistan, visited Gilgit-Baltistan four times and introduced reforms which showed his commitment to betterment of the people.

Similarly, he added, Benazir Bhutto visited the area twice as prime minister and eliminated feudalism, besides creating new districts to ensure good governance.

Mr Kaira said the dictators hindered PPP's efforts of empowering people, but now the government was taking forward the mission of PPP leaders.

“Now after such a long time reforms have been introduced in the region and the third generation of the party enjoys the credit to empower the people and ensuring rights for them,” Mr Kaira said.

He said it had been decided to devolve the powers from Islamabad to the elected chief minister so that the people were governed through their own representatives.

The area of legislation for the assembly had been increased from 49 to 61 subjects and the matter of taxation was to be dealt with the forthcoming elected government, the governor said.

The region will have its own auditor-general, a public accounts committee and a consolidated fund.

The governor said the assembly would be empowered to debate and endorse budget like the four provincial assemblies. The cabinet will have only six members so that there is no monetary burden. Two technical advisers will assist the chief minister.