GILGIT, May 2: The government of Gilgit-Baltistan on Tuesday released Rs315 million to be disbursed among the internally displaced people of Hunza who were affected by the formation of an artificial lake on Hunza river after a devastating landslide.

This was stated by Speaker Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly Wazir Baig while talking to this correspondent.

He said 457 families which had lost their homes and lands in the disaster would be paid Rs600,000 each.

Mr Baig said the disbursement would begin after verification of the families by the National Database Registration Authority. He said the people of Gulmit, Sarat, Shishkat and Karimabad would be compensated.

The lawmaker added the federal government had fulfilled its pledge of providing funds to compensate the affected families.

He said new boats were being purchased for safe travel of the people across the artificial lake. He thanked the president and prime minister for extending financial help to the IDPs. CUSTOMS COURT:

The customs and banking court has started functioning in Gilgit for the first time with the District and Sessions Judge, Khurshid Alam, has been given additional charge for three months till appointment of a permanent judge, court officials said.

The officials said the customs and banking court was set up to dispose of those cases which were pending because of absence of such an institution.

The officials said staff had been hired from other courts and the pending cases had been listed for regular hearing.

The officials said earlier additional district and sessions judge heard cases related to the customs and banking court, but the Supreme Appellate Court had barred him from doing so.