GILGIT, Feb 20: The Gilgit-Baltistan is facing acute shortage of stamp papers.

The unavailability of stamp papers has also impacted the official business. Stamp paper is one of the main sources of revenue of the GB government.

Well placed sources said the crisis deepened after the district administrations were barred from requisitioning the stamp papers from the directorate of stamps and the finance department was assigned the task.

“Earlier the district administrations were empowered to send requisition to directorate of stamp, which used to issue the same to vendors but now only the finance department will do the job,” disclosed Shabbir Hussain, an official of the department.

But, he divulged that due to paucity of funds the finance department could not purchase the stamp papers. The official also revealed that stamp paper was being used illegally, causing its shortage.

When contacted the president of the stamp vendors association, Haji Israr Hussain said sale of stamp paper was the main source of income, but the GB government was not interested in ensuring availability of ample stamp papers in the region. He said a month ago all selling points of stamp paper were sealed for selling the paper in the black, but later these were allowed to operate.

He said stamp papers of Rs5, Rs10, Rs50 and Rs100 were not available since one year, and demanded of the government to immediately arrange the paper in the region.