Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Committee Convenes

The Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan took serious notice of the Ministry’s failure to provide a brief on time. The Committee convened in Parliament House on Thursday, January 2, 2025, under the chairmanship of Haji Imtiaz Ahmed Choudhry, MNA, to review the workings and performance of the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Secretary of the Ministry provided a comprehensive briefing on the Ministry’s operations and its attached departments. It was noted that the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan is a small ministry with five departments under its jurisdiction, managing a total budget of Rs1,388.77 million.

The Secretary outlined the Ministry’s primary responsibility to act as a liaison between the governments of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). The Ministry’s main functions include policy formulation and planning for these regions. The federal government provides grants and funds for PSDP projects in GB. The briefing highlighted the roles of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council and the Azad Kashmir Council in fostering a strong connection between the federation and these regions. These councils are crucial in promoting collaboration and ensuring that regional interests align with national objectives.

The Committee recommended engaging in national and international activities, involving media and civil society, especially local and international NGOs working in human rights, to intensify lobbying efforts for the Kashmir cause. The Committee also directed the Ministry to collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a detailed briefing on diplomatic efforts and engagement regarding the Kashmir issue.

The meeting was attended by Honorable Members Mr. Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, Mr. Muhammad Azhar Khan Leghari, Ms. Kiran Imran Dar, Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan, Ms. Munaza Hassan, Ms. Farakh Khan, Mian Ghous Muhammad, and senior officers including the Secretary from the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan and its attached departments and organizations.

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