Gilgit: The Government presented Rs.15.242 annual budget of Gilgit-Baltstan as Finance Minister Muhammad Ali Akhtar read out the budget speech in a live telecast session which also witnessed boycott of the opposition and journalists boycotted the budget session. The budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012 is approximately 40.4% higher than the actual spending for the outgoing year of about Rs11 billion. However, it is only 18% higher than the announced Gilgit-Baltistan budget of Rs13 billion for fiscal year 2011.
Like the four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan’s government lacks the capacity to spend all of the money that is allocated to it by the federal government. The Finance Minister said that Rs1.75 billion for education will be invested in education. It is to be noted that GB government kept education as fourth in last year budget with an investment of Rs 295.805 million (9%)which is 4 times higher than the budget allocated Federal Level and other provinces. People from civil society showed their great concern over the less allocation for the education sector. According to our reporter Gilgit-Baltistan has lost more than 80 educational institutions and Ataabad Lake has caused a huge problem for thousands of students.
Even federal government and donors have not paid that mush attention towards Gilgit-Baltistan as they are working in down countries.