Islamabad: The federal government has proposed an increase in the development budget of Gilgit-Baltistan for the next fiscal year, indicating a special focus on energy, infrastructure and public utility projects in the region.
According to the budget documents, a development budget of more than Rs 39 billion has been proposed for Gilgit-Baltistan for the next fiscal year, which is 27.32 percent more than the revised development budget of the current fiscal year. While this increase is 5.26 percent compared to the original development budget.
A development budget of Rs 37.1 billion was allocated for Gilgit-Baltistan for the current fiscal year; however, this amount was limited to Rs 30.67 billion in the revised estimates. The new proposals have significantly increased funding, keeping in mind the development needs of the region.
According to the documents, Rs 23 billion has been proposed for the next fiscal year’s block allocation and annual development programme (ADP). In addition, an allocation of Rs 4 billion has been recommended under the Prime Minister’s Special Development Package.
In the energy sector, Rs 2.2 billion has been proposed for the 16 MW expansion programme of the Naltar Hydropower Project, while Rs 1.71 billion has been proposed for the installation of solar power plants in different areas of Gilgit-Baltistan.
An amount of Rs 1 billion has been allocated for the regional grid project to improve the power transmission system at the regional level. According to experts, this project will help reduce the energy crisis and improve power supply to remote areas.
The budget proposals also include various projects for drainage, road construction, clean water supply and improvement of the health sector. Government circles say that the aim of these projects is to improve the quality of public services in Gilgit-Baltistan and promote economic activities.
According to policy experts, Gilgit-Baltistan is one of the most important tourist and geographical regions of Pakistan, so investment in infrastructure and energy projects can play a significant role in the long-term development of the region. If the proposed projects are completed in a timely manner, they can create new opportunities for employment, investment and economic activity in the region.
The proposed increase in the federal development budget is being described as a significant development in the context of the development needs of the region; however, the effective implementation and transparent execution of the projects are being considered the real test of this success.
