GB presents Rs119bn budget amid funding crisis.

GILGIT -- The Gilgit-Baltistan government on Monday presented the budget for the fiscal year 2022-23 with a total outlay of Rs119.3 billion. The annual budget was presented in the Gilgit Baltistan Assembly.

Finance minister Javed Ali Manwa presented the budget during a special session chaired by Deputy Speaker Nazir Ahmed Advocate.

Presenting the budget, Mr Manwa said Rs61.4 billion had been proposed for ongoing expenditures while Rs47.8 billion had been set aside for new development schemes.

Interestingly, opposition parties' members, including from Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl remained calm during the budget speech.

Deputy Speaker Nazir Ahmed Advocate in his remarks thanked all the parties for respecting the democratic values and patiently listening to the budget speech.

The finance minister announced 15 per cent increase in salaries of government employees and fixed Rs25,000 as minimum wage for contingent employees.

The minister said Rs10 billion had been proposed for wheat subsidy, Rs2.25 billion for education and Rs1.20 billion for health. He said Rs5.39 billion had been allocated for works department and Rs3.5 billion for power sector.

He added that Rs174.8 million had been allocated for forests and wildlife, Rs121.7 million for minerals, Rs49.8 million for food and Rs288.5 million for tourism development.

He said purchase of vehicles for government departments, creation of new jobs, foreign trips of government functionaries, and official...