Gilgit-Baltistan’s government has presented a provincial budget of Rs148.63 billion for the fiscal year 2025-26, including a deficit of Rs6 billion, Express News reported.
During the assembly session on Monday, Finance Minister Engineer Muhammad Ismail tabled the budget, which proposes a 10 per cent salary increase for government employees.
The budget allocates Rs8.82 billion for non-development expenses, while Rs3.7 billion is earmarked for development projects.
Additionally, Rs1.1 billion has been proposed for federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) projects, with Rs400 million specifically set aside for the Prime Minister’s programme under PSDP.
The government has set a non-tax revenue target of Rs789.2 million for the upcoming fiscal year and proposed Rs2 billion for the wheat subsidy.
Speaking on allocations for key sectors, the finance minister said Rs147 million has been allocated for education, Rs125 million for health — including Rs62 million for the Health Endowment Fund.
The budget also earmarks Rs35 million for agriculture, livestock, and fisheries, Rs9 million for tourism, and Rs10 million for the information technology sector.
