Gilgit-Baltistan unveils Rs148b deficit budget with 10pc pay raise for govt employees

The Gilgit-Baltistan government presented over Rs148 billion budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 in the provincial assembly on Monday.

The budget also includes Rs6 billion deficit. The finance document has proposed an allocation of Rs88.19 for the non-development expenditure. An allocation of Rs37 billion has been proposed for development budget. An allocation of Rs11 billion has been proposed for the federal PSDP projects.

An amount of Rs4 billion has been proposed for the federal PSDP under the Prime Minister’s Programme. The non-tax revenue target for the upcoming fiscal year has been set at Rs7.89 billion. An amount of Rs20 billion has been proposed for wheat subsidy. A 10 percent increase in the salaries of government employees has been proposed in the finance document. 

Finance Minister Engineer Muhammad Ismail presented the budget in the provincial assembly that proposes Rs1.47 billion for education, Rs1.25 billion for health, including Rs620 million for the health endowment fund, Rs350 million for agriculture, livestock and fisheries and Rs90 million for tourism.