GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan cabinet, chaired by Advocate Chief Minister Amjad Hussain on Tuesday approved a series of measures covering development, public welfare, education, health, agriculture, minerals and administrative reforms, including a grant of Rs220 million for Skardu Cadet College.

The cabinet also approved Rs271.1 million in compensation for damage to government property during the incidents of March 1, 2026, and the transfer of ownership of alternative land to flood-affected residents of Tali Das in Ghizer district.

In education, the meeting approved the regularisation of teachers working under the School Education Programme, Basic Education and the National Commission for Human Development. It also declared the Gilgit Nupoh Basin a hard area for women teachers and endorsed an agreement to operate 10 government schools in Shigar district in collaboration with the private sector.

The cabinet approved the amended Digital Media Policy 2025 and recommended that the GB Livestock Bill 2026 and Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026 be presented before the provincial assembly. It also decided to recommend a one-year extension to the law governing the regularisation of doctors, referring the matter to the assembly for consideration.

Preparations begin to conduct long-delayed LG polls on Dec 5

To support agriculture, the cabinet approved the release of funds for rehabilitating the Gini Das and Gureekot irrigation channels in Astore district. It also delegated magisterial powers to assistant directors of the Mines and Minerals Department.

On administrative and institutional reforms, the cabinet approved the establishment of the Diamer Development Authority and District and Divisional Dev­e­lopment Review Committee, while expa­nding the Gilgit Development Authority’s jurisdiction to suburban areas.

The meeting approved the Gilgit-Baltistan Population Policy 2026-36 and amendments to the Local Council Delimitation 2026. It also endorsed amendments to the GB Revenue Authority Act 2026 to establish an Advisory Council.

Preparations begin for LG polls

Preparations began to conduct long-delayed Gilgit-Baltistan local government elections as District Returning Officers (DROs) were appointed on Monday for elections of municipal corporations of Chilas, Skardu and Gilgit town.

The local bodies elections in these areas will be held on Dec 5.

According to a notification is­­sued on Tuesday, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shahbaz Khan has appointed Gilgit Deputy Commissioner retired Captain Arif Ahmed as DRO for Gilgit, DC of Skardu Hamza Murad as DRO of Skardu, and DC of Diamer retired Lt Muhammad Owais as DRO of Chilas Municipal Corporation.

According to the notification, the appointed officers will oversee matters related to local government elections within jurisdictions of their respective municipal corporations.

In a statement, the CEC said that local bodies elections in GB will be held in two phases.

The four local bodies system will comprise district councils, union councils, committees at village level in rural areas and municipal bodies in urban areas.

He said that the first phase of local government elections would be held in three municipal corporations of Gilgit, Chilas and Skardu on Dec 5.

He said the process of delimitation of wards and other necessary electoral preparations has already begun.

He further said that elections of district councils, union councils and other relevant local government bodies in the remaining seven districts will be held in April next year.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2026