By : Kh Kashif Mir
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN – In a significant development, the Senate Standing Committee on Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs has proposed making Gilgit-Baltistan the fifth province of Pakistan with full authority. The committee, chaired by Senator Sajid Mir, emphasized the need to separate Gilgit-Baltistan’s affairs from Azad Kashmir at the federal level.
The proposal was moved by Senator Hamid Khan of the PTI, who stressed that Gilgit-Baltistan is a non-disputed region and should be given the status of a full-fledged province to ensure its development and prosperity. The committee decided to have a detailed discussion on the proposal in the next meeting.
The committee also reviewed the performance of the Kashmir Committee and condemned the Minister of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Engineer Amir Muqam, for not participating in the meeting. The Secretary of Kashmir Affairs, Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry, apologized for the minister’s absence and shared detailed data about Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan with the committee.
The committee was informed that billions of rupees are allocated for development projects in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, but the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs lacks the authority to monitor these projects. The committee invited the Chief Secretary of Azad Kashmir to the next meeting and approved the participation of six elected council members of Azad Kashmir as observers.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan briefed the committee on the functions of the Azad Kashmir Council and Gilgit-Baltistan Council, highlighting their role in enhancing connections between the federation and the two regions. The committee was also informed about the financial constraints faced by Gilgit-Baltistan, which has no source of income and relies heavily on federal government funding.
Senator Hamid Khan emphasized that granting provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan is essential for national security and development. The committee members agreed that the Kashmir issue is within their jurisdiction and that the existence of governments in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan is necessary.
The meeting concluded with a detailed discussion on the proposal, and the committee decided to invite experts and stakeholders to share their views on the matter in the next meeting.