Gilgit (Bureau chief): Chaired by chief minister Khalid Khurshid, the 32nd Gilgit-Baltistan cabinet meeting took in the provincial capital Gilgit on Friday.
Those attending the meeting included provincial ministers, chief minister’s advisers, the chief secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan, the inspector general Gilgit-Baltistan police, and administrative secretaries of different departments.
While addressing the meeting, chief minister G-B expressed his concern related to the water shortage in Skardu’s low water level in Sadpara Lake. He approved Rs. 130 million in funds to obtain water from underground through boring on an immediate basis to meet both irrigation and human needs of water in the region.
The chief minister also announced the allocation of Rs. 124 million in funds to arrange water through a lift from the River Indus. He directed the district administration of Skardu and the Planning and Water Development Department to finalize a joint development plan to solve the water problem in Skardu on an emergency basis and ensure the supply of clean water to the people.
The cabinet meeting approved the transfer of the ownership authority of Mujibur Rahman Shaheed Public School and College Jutial, Gilgit from the federation to G-B in light of the eighteenth amendment. However, the administrative powers of the Public School and College Jutial will remain vested in the Board of Governors.
The cabinet vowed not to make any compromise with the quality of education imparted by the institution. For a long-term solution to the problems of the teaching staff, the Minister of Education and the Secretary of Education will devise a strategy in consultation with the Force Board of Governors.
The cabinet meeting also approved getting the services of Aga Khan Agency for Habitat and WASIP for the implementation of the water supply scheme for Chilas City. Instructions were issued to the interior department to immediately provide clean water to the citizens of Chilas.
The meeting directed the concerned departments to start work on the project on an emergency basis.
The cabinet meeting also approved the transfer of the services of two FCPS Lady Medical Officers from the Department of Social and Population Welfare to the Department of Health.
The decision would be taken regarding the creation of vacancies of director generals in the Power and Construction departments in the next session. The decision would be taken in light of the recommendations of ministers and secretaries of law, services, and finance.
The meeting also approved giving 13 tourist facility centers under the management of the tourism department to the private sector on lease. The cabinet hoped that this measure would improve the management and maintenance of these facility centers. Moreover, this will also help the G-B government to generate revenue annually.
While speaking on the occasion, chief minister G-B said his government is devising a strategy to also lease rest houses managed by the Forest Department to the private sector. This will help provide better quality accommodation facilities to tourists in the region.
The Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan further said the ownership of PTDC motels in G-B also has been transferred to the G-B government under the 18th amendment. These motels will also be leased to the private sector.
He directed the Provincial Home Secretary to take the necessary steps to transfer the PTDC Motels in Gilgit-Baltistan to the Provincial Government. He also issued instructions to send recommendations for the establishment of the Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Authority to the Legislative Committee of the Cabinet.
Gilgit-Baltistan cabinet meeting also approved a five-year rule of law roadmap. The Rule of Law Roadmap has been developed in collaboration with Sony Gambling Policy Center and UNDP. The project aims to improve the rule of law situation in the area. In this five-year plan, the manpower, capacity, infrastructure, human resource, training, and financial management of all institutions related to the rule of law will be worked on step by step.
Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Gilgit-Baltistan also approved the immediate appointment of the Vice Chairman of the Board of Investment.
