Nawaz Khan Naji Criticizes Biased Budget in Pakistan Occupied Gilgit Baltistan
Gilgit [PoGB], June 25: Nawaz Khan Naji, an opposition member of Parliament from Pakistan Occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB), expressed his concerns over the biased budget allocation in the financial budget presented at the assembly. Naji stated, “The fate of Pakistan is doomed; it is a well-known fact; the administration is incompetent and corruption is at its peak, so what will be the ultimate result is clear. Now PoGB is a colony of Pakistan; hence, our fate is also sealed. Every time the budget is allocated, money is given as a donation or alms, we deserve more than what we are given, which is also true.”
Naji criticized the allocation of funds, stating that the money is not distributed logically and major corporations benefit without paying taxes. He said, “Neither we are given the right sum of money nor the money given to us is rightly distributed. The allocations for schemes are not based on any logic. We had participated with the Joint Awami Action Committee in their protests of demands to stop taxation essentials but should we not apply taxation rules to major corporations and projects that have been using PoGB resources for their benefit?”
Another female leader from PoGB raised concerns about the lack of attention to women’s issues in the budget. She mentioned, “The local administration remains a silent observer as the situations go from bad to worse. As the government is not empowered, the people are empowered. And the ultimate ruler of the PoGB is someone else as the local administration always acts as an advocate for the Pakistani administration.”
Previously, the finance minister of PoGB, Engineer Muhammad Ismail, presented the financial budget for the year 2024-25, totaling PKR 140.17 billion. In the budget, PKR 86 billion was allocated for non-developmental expenses and PKR 34.60 billion for developmental projects. The budget was presented amid protests by opposition members in Gilgit City.
Opposition leader Kazim Mesum and other assembly members protested, claiming the budget neglects key sectors like health and agriculture. Mesum stated, “I have raised my voice repeatedly but the administration is not interested in listening to our concerns. Instead of taking considerable actions to resolve our issues, we are being pushed into even more despair.”
Mesum also highlighted the lack of allocations for media professionals and vacant teacher positions in PoGB.
