Standing Committee Criticizes Ministry for Delayed Brief on Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan

Islamabad: The Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan expressed concern over the Ministry’s delay in providing necessary briefings during a meeting held at Parliament House. The session, chaired by Haji Imtiaz Ahmed Choudhry, MNA, aimed to evaluate the Ministry’s operations and performance.

According to National Assembly of Pakistan, the Secretary of the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan delivered a detailed presentation on the Ministry’s activities and its five affiliated departments. The Ministry, described as having a budget of Rs1,388.77 million, primarily acts as a liaison between the governments of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ and K) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB).

The briefing outlined the Ministry’s core responsibilities, which include policy formulation and planning for both regions. It was noted that the federal government financially supports GB through grants and Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) projects. The presentation also emphasized the role of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council and the Azad Kashmir Council in enhancing cooperation and aligning the regions’ interests with national objectives.