GILGIT: A total annual budget of Rs15.43 billion for the year 2011-12 was presented in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly on Monday, DawnNews reported.

Meanwhile, as Finance Minister Mohammad Ali Akhtar presented the budget in the assembly, opposition members and journalists boycotted the budget session.

Out of the total budget, an amount of Rs 8.17 billion was allocated for non-development activities whereas Rs 7.268 billion have been allocated for development.

In the budget speech, the finance minister added that 23 per cent of the budget was allocated for education, while 16 per cent was apportioned for health. An increase of 15 per cent was also announced for government salaries, with a 15-20 per cent increase in pensions for retired employees.

According to the budget details posted on the Gilgit-Baltistan website, a total of Rs 1.89 billion have been allocated for nine Federal Public Sector Development Projects (PSDP) in the province, whereas Rs 1.2 billion have been earmarked as Gilgit-Baltistan Special Development Package.