GILGIT: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Sunday said that the newGilgit-Baltistan (GB) law would make the GB government even more powerfulthan other provincial governments and grant similar basic rights to thearea people without any discrimination.
The premier was addressing the GB Legislative Assembly following approvalof GB Order 2018.
He said that the government had been working on the order for the lastseven to eight months and it had been facing resistance from within its ownranks as some people never wanted to forego their powers.
“It is a historic day for GB. The area has been given constitutionalrights. It will now have all necessary power. The high court judges,governors will be from within the region while a quota will be allotted forthe people of the area in the civil service,” he said.
The premier said under the new law that had replaced GB Empowerment andSelf-Governance Order of 2009, all powers would rest with the GB Assemblyand there would be no discrimination between the fundamental rights beingenjoyed by residents of other provinces and those of the GB.
The prime minister dismissed the opposition’s criticism and said there wasno need of legislation for the step as it could be done through an order.“However, the government could also get it passed through parliament whereit enjoyed the majority.”
Abbasi remarked that everyone had the right to a difference of opinion butthe stance of others must be heard as well.
He told the members that under the new order, all the subjects that hadbeen devolved to provinces under 18th Amendment would also stand devolvedto GB. “The Gilgit Baltistan Council would only deal with the federalsubject, having just an advisory role, not executive or overriding one.”
Under the new law, he said chief secretaries would be given all powers sothat the people need not to visit Islamabad for resolution of their issues.A single consolidated fund would be established and the GB would have thepowers to spend it for development, he explained.
He remarked that Gilgit-Baltistan was moving towards progress.
He thanked Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Minister Muhammad BarjeesTahir for extending his support in preparation of new order.
Earlier on his arrival in GB, the premier was received at Gilgit Airport byGovernor Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman andother high officials.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi visited the Yadgar-e-Shaudah in Chinar Garden where helaid a wreath and offered fateha for the heroes and martyrs of theliberation war of Gilgit-Baltistan.
The prime minister laid the foundation stone for Gilgit Naltar expresswayroad project. The project will be completed with a total outlay of Rs 2.6billion in three years.
Gilgit Naltar expressway project after completion will reduce traveldistance from two hours to half an hour will help promote tourism in thearea. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also laid the foundation stone forGilgit-Baltistan secretariat project.
Separately, PM Abbasi has summoned 38th CCI session at his office inIslamabad. Chief ministers of all four provinces have been requested toattend the meeting where issues, including water crisis, will be discussed.