Protests Erupt as Finance Minister Muhammad Ismail Presents PoGB Budget 2024-25

The finance minister of Pakistan Occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB), Engineer Muhammad Ismail, presented the financial budget for the year 2024-25, totalling PKR 140.17 billion, on Tuesday.

Budget Breakdown

In the tabled budget, PKR 86 billion was allocated for non-developmental expenses and PKR 34.60 billion was allocated to developmental projects. According to Ismail, PKR 6.40 billion is estimated as non-tax revenue, and PKR 1.33 billion is estimated to be collected as revenue from PoGB authorities. The budget deficit is estimated to be at PKR 11.92 billion.

Opposition Protests

The budget presentation was met with protests by opposition members in the parliament in Gilgit City. Opposition leader Kazim Mesum claimed that the budget is inappropriate and neglects key sectors like health and agriculture. He also alleged that the budget was biased, favoring schemes that benefited members of the treasury bench.

Opposition members tore copies of the budget speech and surrounded the speaker’s desk, leading to the session being adjourned till June 26 for further discussion.

Public Reaction

Several opposition leaders organized a long march in the streets of Gilgit City, chanting slogans criticizing the PoGB budget. Kazim Mesum stated that the administration is not listening to their concerns and that promises made to protesting employees were not fulfilled in the budget.

Mesum also highlighted that media professionals in PoGB had demanded an endowment fund and that there were vacant teacher positions that needed addressing, but no allocations were made for these issues in the budget.