GB CM Calls for Inclusion in NFC Formula to Accelerate Development

Gilgit(News Desk): Caretaker Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, Justice (R) Yar Muhammad, has emphasized that sustainable development and accelerated progress in the region require the inclusion of Gilgit-Baltistan in the National Finance Commission (NFC) formula. Speaking during a departmental briefing on the Planning & Development Department by the Additional Chief Secretary, he said a special recommendation will be made to the Prime Minister of Pakistan to ensure GB receives its rightful share under the NFC.

The Chief Minister highlighted that the Planning & Development Department plays a crucial role in the province’s overall development. He directed authorities to ensure timely completion of targeted projects to speed up the development journey of the region. He stressed the need for modern, efficient monitoring systems to improve the quality and pace of all ongoing projects, ensuring their benefits reach the general public and help improve their standard of living.

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Justice (R) Yar Muhammad further stated that promoting the private sector is essential to curb unemployment, and a strategic plan must be prepared in this regard. For a permanent solution to the ongoing power crisis in Gilgit-Baltistan, he ordered uninterrupted funding for all under-construction power projects and ensured their completion within the stipulated time.

He called for strict departmental action against officers responsible for poor planning, faulty feasibility reports, and incorrect PC-1s, noting that such negligence turns GB into a hub of incomplete and problematic projects. He said unnecessary revision of projects must be discouraged, and a strict system of accountability is necessary to ensure transparency and efficiency.

The Chief Minister expressed serious concern over the poor state of Gilgit’s roads, damaged under the guise of sewerage work. He said complaints of substandard planning and low-quality work are being received from various areas. He instructed the Additional Chief Secretary (Development) to ensure that the concerned departments carry out proper re-metalling of all major roads using pure machinery and complete the sewerage system within the set timeline and with high standards.

He also appreciated the Planning & Development Department’s initiative to digitize the approval and monitoring system of development projects, saying that this shift to an online system will bring greater transparency and efficiency to the overall process.