GB announces Rs1.402tr budget

GIlGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Government on Monday unveiled Rs1.402 trillion budget for the fiscal year 2024-25. Presenting the budget in the provincial assembly, Finance Minister Engineer Ismail said Rs 86.6 billion was allocated for non-development expenditures and Rs 34.5 billion for development projects.

“The development budget includes Rs 20 billion for the annual development programme and Rs13.5 billion for the federal government projects,” he said. The minister said Rs19.07 billion was earmarked for wheat subsidy. Announcing budgetary allocations for various departments, the finance minister said education sector was allocated Rs1.37 billion, health sector Rs1.52 billion, agriculture department Rs597.9 million, food department, Rs 998 million, tourism department Rs260 million, mineral resources department Rs110 million, irrigation department Rs1.728 billion, forestry and environment department Rs1.524 billion, rural development department, Rs 1.19 billion, information technology department Rs1.316 billion, technical education department Rs7.763 billion, social welfare department Rs3.632 billion, power department Rs2.88 billion, communication department Rs5.63 billion, and information department Rs41.4 million. Additionally, Rs536.8 million was specified for the prison department, Rs192.6 million for the law department and Rs57.4 million for excise and taxation department. He also announced an adhoc relief of 25 percent for grade 1-16 government employees and 20 percent for grade 18 and above.