ISLAMABAD: The federal government has allocated Rs 32 billion as the development budget for Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) in the upcoming fiscal year 2025–26. The allocation includes a block grant of Rs 22 billion, Rs 10 billion for ongoing development projects, and a special package under the Prime Minister’s initiative.
According to official documents, key allocations for infrastructure, health, education, and energy projects are as follows:
- Rs 4 billion under PM package
- Rs 1 billion for the MW Shagarthang Hydropower Project
- Rs 1 billion for the 16 MW Naltar-III Power Project
- Rs 10 million for the 26 MW HPP Hanzel Gilgit
Road and connectivity projects include:
- Rs 1 billion for the Darel-Tangir Expressway
- Rs 790 million for the construction of a road from Pissan to Hoper Nagar
- Rs 1.5 billion for the Inter-Provincial Connectivity Economic Corridor through GB and AJK (Thalichi GB–Shounter AJK)
- Rs 300 million for inter-regional connectivity between the Baltistan Division and Diamer-Astore Division (construction and metalling of the road from Gorikot Astore to Shagarthang Skardu)
Health sector allocations include:
- Rs 1 billion for a 250-bed hospital in Skardu
- Rs 300 million for a 50-bed Cardiac Hospital (Phase-I) in Gilgit
- Rs 500 million for the upgradation of the Regional Headquarters Hospital in Gilgit
- Rs 300 million for the establishment of a 300-bed ICT Mother and Child Hospital in Chilas
Other key allocations:
- Rs 1.2 billion for the establishment of the Regional Grid (GB Phase-I)
- Rs 300 million for a Medical and Nursing College in Gilgit
- Rs 1 billion for the Sewerage and Sanitation System in Gilgit (Phase-II)
- Rs 600 million for the Greater Water Supply Scheme for central Hunza from Attabad Lake
- Rs 200 million for the establishment of a Mountaineering Institute in Shigar
These are allocations for on-going projects in the area as no new project has been included or introduced for GB in the next budget.
