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NA body finalises recommendations for Gilgit-Baltistan reforms

Monitoring Desk

Islamabad: The high-powered reforms committee for reviewing proposed constitutional package for Gilgit-Baltistan has sent its proposals to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi after the final meeting of the committee held here on Thursday.

The last meeting of the committee, held at Ministry of Planning and Development was chaired by Sartaj Aziz, deputy chairman, Planning Commission. Other members of the committee who attended the meeting included Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and GB Barjees Tahir, Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid, Kashmir Affairs and GB secretary, Gilgit Baltistan Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeez-ur-Rehamn and representatives from the Ministry of Defence.

According to official sources, the committee, which made the final proposals after holding a number of meetings, was dissolved after meeting the given task of recommending administrative and financial reform’s in Gilgit Baltistan. However, the GB chief minister GB would be in constant contact with federal government for implementation on the given recommendations.

The committee was formed by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif for finalising recommendations of a previous committee for empowering Gilgit-Baltistan. It was the second time the committee has sent its proposals as former PM had sent back the proposals of the committee for further deliberation few months ago.

According to the sources, Prime Minister Khaqan Abbasi will now table the proposals before his cabinet for approval. After a number of meetings, the committee had reportedly proposed further empowerment of the semi-autonomous region in its recommendations. The committee had reportedly proposed the central government to grant representation to Gilgit-Baltistan in the Senate and the National Assembly.

According to the sources, these three NA members will be elected from Gilgit, Diamar and Baltistan region through the set procedure of election across the country, while three members for the Senate will be elected by the Legislative Assembly of the region.

Apart from the membership in the parliament, the committee has also proposed to the government to give the region its due share and representation in the next NFC Award to bring it on par with other provinces. The government was trying to propose better reforms in Gilgit-Baltistan as compared to the Pakistan People’s Party-led previous government which had introduced a provincial set-up through the Gilgit-Baltistan Self-Governance Ordinance in 2009.

Pakistan Today 

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