GB Interim Budget: Rs20 Billion Approved for Q1

GB – (Musaib) – Gilgit Baltistan Rs20 billion budget was approved on Monday by the GB Assembly to cover government spending for the first three months of the new financial year. Lawmakers passed this GB interim budget after the federal government failed to release the full amount the region had asked for.

Assembly member Muhammad Ali Akhtar presented the budget in the house. He told members that Gilgit Baltistan had asked Islamabad for Rs258.95 billion for the coming fiscal year. Since that money has not arrived yet, the local government had no choice but to bring in a short-term budget to keep things running.

The full budget for the year is expected to reach Rs158.542 billion. Out of this, Rs20.478 billion has been set aside just for the first quarter. Officials also expect the total budget to grow by another Rs12.239 billion once the new fiscal year fully begins.

Before the budget was tabled, the assembly held a small ceremony. Speaker Imran Nadeem gave the oath to two newly elected members. Muhammad Dilpazeer, representing the IPP, and Muhammad Naseem from the Pakistan Peoples Party joined the house as new lawmakers. Right after this, the budget documents were placed before the assembly.

Flood victims will also get some relief through this budget. The government has kept Rs275.785 million from the Prime Minister’s grant for rebuilding flood-hit areas. This money is meant to help families and infrastructure damaged by recent floods in the region.

Wheat remains a major part of the spending plan. Officials have proposed Rs15 billion for the wheat subsidy program, which helps keep flour prices affordable for local people. At the same time, the government expects to earn around Rs3 billion from wheat sales during this period.

Government staff will also benefit from this budget. A total of Rs15.225 billion has been allocated for salaries and allowances of employees. Another Rs1.386 billion will go toward daily running costs of various government offices and departments.

Health care has not been left out either. The budget includes Rs300 million to strengthen the Health Endowment Fund. On top of that, Rs100 million has been set aside to buy new ambulances for the region.

Disaster response has also received attention this time. The government proposed Rs880 million for disaster management efforts across Gilgit Baltistan. Additionally, Rs770 million will be used to buy heavy machinery, while Rs45 million has been kept for heavy drones used in emergency response.

Development work in cities and towns is also part of the plan. The budget sets aside Rs430 million for urban development projects. Local councils and municipal committees will receive Rs292 million, while the Waste Management Company gets Rs138 million to improve cleanliness services.

Once the budget was presented, Speaker Imran Nadeem adjourned the session. The assembly will meet again on Wednesday, giving members time to debate and discuss the budget proposals in detail before final approval.

This GB interim budget is seen as a temporary fix until the federal government releases the full funding Gilgit Baltistan has requested. Until then, essential services, salaries, and development projects will continue running under this short-term financial plan.