Gilgit-Baltistan council approves budget of Rs 223. 268 million
ISLAMABAD : The Gilgit-Baltistan council in its first session, chaired by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani here on Friday besides passing four bills approved the first ever budget of Rs 223. 268 million. The council also offered Fateha for the late Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan Shama Khalid.
In the legislation process, the council passed four bills: The Gilgit-Baltistan Council Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, 2010; The Members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council (Salaries, Allowances and Privileges) Bill, 2010; The Gilgit-Baltistan Council Civil Servants (Adaptation) Bill, 2010 and the Gilgit-Baltistan Adaptation of Laws Bill, 2010. Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo as Minister Incharge of Gilgit-Baltistan Council Secretariat also presented before the council three motions for approval of the council. The first related to Taxation Policy of Gilgit-Baltistan. The policy was approved in principal and it was decided that a committee be formed to examine the proposals and give its recommendations. The details of the same would subsequently be finalised by the council in consultation with the relevant organisations of the Ministry of Finance and submitted for the approval of the chairman.
A special committee was formed on the second motion regarding adaptation of laws/ordinances of Pakistan by the Gilgit-Baltistan council, which are already extended and need to be extended under the Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self-Governance) Order, 2009. Amjad Hussain, Member, Gilgit-Baltistan council was unanimously chosen as Chairman of the Special Committee. Other members will be, Ibadat Ali, Professor Ghulam Hussain, Sherry Rehman, MNA. The second special committee formed to examine and give recommendations regarding the mode of management of departments whose subject/functions are assigned to the Gilgit-Baltistan council will be headed by Muhammad Ibrahim while the other members of the committee would be Saeed Afzal, Attaullah Khan, Engr Usman Khan Tarakai, MNA, M Tariq Tarar, MNA and Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan as co-opted member.
The council unanimously elected Amjad Hussain as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Gilgit-Baltistan council. The other members would be selected by the Council Secretariat from amongst the members of the Council through consensus. The chairman directed the council to form a standing committee through mutual consultation for better co-ordination and liaison of the council with various ministries/organisations of the Government of Pakistan.
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