ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf 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.
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani 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.
He said the people of Gilgit-Baltistan have their own governor, chief minister and an assembly with powers to legislate on scores of subjects. They have their own judiciary with their Supreme Appellate Court having original jurisdiction.
Prime Minister Gilani said introduction of Income Tax in Gilgit-Baltistan would be an important step towards financial autonomy through mobilization 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.
Prime Minister 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."
He said political and administrative autonomy was a long standing demand of people of Gilgit Baltistan and added that it was democracy only that resolves the age-old problems by addressing their grievances and accommodating their demands.
Gilani said the government of Pakistan People's Party has done what political party having two-thirds majority in parliament could not do.
He mentioned the restoration of Constitution to its original form, devolution of powers under the 18th Constitutional Amendment to the federating units, 7th NFC Award, renaming of NWFP as Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order 2009.
The prime minister also pointed to the introduction of amendments in FCR and extension of Political Parties Act in FATA, as some of the historic initiatives with far-reaching implications.
He said the political history of the region bears witness to the fact that all landmark developments that led to attainment of autonomy took place during the governments of Pakistan People's Party.
The first major reform in the form of Northern Areas Council Legal Framework Order 1974-75 was promulgated by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
He said through this Order, major administrative, judicial and political changes were introduced and feudal system and Frontier Crimes Regulation were abolished.
Gilani said the Northern Areas Legal Framework Order 1994 was promulgated during the time of Shaheed Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The final culmination of the process came about when the present government issued Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment & Self-Governance) Order 2009, giving people political, legislative and administrative autonomy in line with the manifesto of PPP.
He said the Gilgit-Baltistan Council, constituted as a consequence of promulgation of Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment & Self-Governance) Order 2009, was performing its responsibilities in an upbeat manner.
The Council Secretariat was providing complete institutional support to the Council to work out policies aimed at achieving welfare of people of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Over the past few months, the Council Secretariat, the Council Members and the Committees constituted in the first meeting of the Council, have worked hard to prepare reports in different fields.
He noted that these committees have completed preparatory work for legislation on important subjects like income-tax, hydel power, mines and minerals, and tourism.
These reports and related legislative work will greatly help in putting in place the institutional framework for gearing up the pace of development in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani earlier also administered oath of new advisors to Chairman Gilgit-Baltistan Council. Advisors include Prof. Ghulam Hussain Saleem Ebadat Ali and Attaullah Khan.
He congratulated the advisors to Chairman, Gilgit-Baltistan Council, on taking oath of office and hoped they would discharge their responsibility with sincerity.
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