Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has emphasized the need for chalking out new plans and policies for the socio-economic uplift of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.
He was chairing the third session of Gilgit Baltistan Council here on Wednesday.
He said both the Gilgit-Baltistan Council and the government should work collectively in the area of mineral development‚ tourism‚ forest‚ and electricity with a view to capitalizing on the untapped resources of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Referring to the ongoing development projects in Gilgit Baltistan‚ the prime minister said Diamer Basha dam will not only help generate electricity but also create thousands of job opportunities and help mitigate floods. He hoped both the council and the Gilgit Baltistan government will work in close collaboration on the matters relating to the compensation of land acquired for the dam.
Appreciating the work of the special committee constituted for the imposition of income tax‚ he said it has finalized its report and income tax is being introduced in Gilgit Baltistan to meet its development needs.
The prime minister said certain subjects such as Tourism‚ Electricity‚ Forest‚ and Mineral development fall under the legislative list of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council‚ yet Gilgit-Baltistan Rules of Business‚ 2009 provide for their temporary administration by the Gilgit-Baltistan Government. He said it requires joint planning and execution of these subjects by the Council and the Gilgit-Baltistan Government.
He believed settlement on these subjects has taken place whereby new structures are being proposed for management which would clearly demarcate the areas of respective jurisdiction between the Council and the Government.
