GB lawmakers seek federal govt’s help in rehabilitation of flood-hit areas

Members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, comprising both opposition and treasury benches, have urged the federal government to provide assistance in rehabilitating flood victims in the region. This demand was made during a session chaired by Speaker Malik Kifayatur Rehman on Monday. Aman Ali Ameer presented a resolution to the Flood Commission of Pakistan, requesting approval for a PC1 document submitted by the GB government for the rehabilitation of affected individuals.

The GB government had allocated Rs6 billion to the flood commission, which has yet to approve the document. Displaced individuals, including those in the Ghizer's Talidas valley and other affected areas, have been eagerly anticipating rehabilitation. Kulsoom Mehahdi of the PPP highlighted the severe impact of the recent floods on people's livelihoods, mentioning that in Haramosh, floods destroyed road networks, leading to the loss of livestock, damage to homes, farmlands, irrigation channels, and causing overall hardship.

PML-N member Abdul Jahan expressed concern over the increasing frequency of natural disasters in the region, noting that the GB government lacks funds to cope with disasters. Despite the prime minister's allocation of Rs2 billion for flood-affected areas in 2024, the funds were returned to the federal government due to non-utilization.

Minister for Communication and Works Mohammad Naseem informed the house that although the chief minister has announced plans to construct houses for displaced people, the GB government lacks funds to address disaster-related issues. PML-N's Rana Farooq pointed out that funds in the past have been misused in similar situations. The GB Chief Minister proposed the formation of a committee to provide recommendations to the federal government, and the resolution was deferred for voting until Wednesday after necessary amendments were made.

The assembly unanimously welcomed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, calling for greater unity and defense cooperation among Muslim countries, and expressed solidarity with Palestine, urging Muslim nations to play a more active role in promoting peace, security, and stability in the Middle East. The GB government also introduced amendments to the Gilgit-Baltistan Revenue Authority Act, 2023, to classify large non-local companies operating in the region under the services tax, with the assembly passing the resolution unanimously to restore the services of 600 lady health workers and health supervisors across Gilgit-Baltistan.