GB cabinet approves police expansion, CTD renaming and transfer of nine roads to NHA

GILGIT: The caretaker cabinet of Gilgit-Baltistan on Friday approved the renaming of the Counter-Terrorism Department as the Counter-Terrorism Unit and cleared recruitment against 600 newly created police posts.

The decisions were taken at a caretaker cabinet meeting chaired by Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Yar Muhammad at the Chief Minister Secretariat in Gilgit.

Briefing reporters after the meeting at the CM Secretariat, GB Caretaker Information Minister Ghulam Abbas, accompanied by Caretaker Home Minister Sajid Ali Baig, Caretaker Finance and Planning and Development Minister Abrar Ismail, Caretaker Forest Minister Hafiz Sharafuddin, and the chief minister’s spokesperson Shabbir Mir, outlined the cabinet’s decisions.

Abbas said the cabinet approved changing the name of the CTD to the CTU. He also said the meeting sanctioned recruitment for 600 new police positions.

According to the information minister, the cabinet also approved rules and regulations for recruitment to posts from Grade 7 to 14.

The cabinet further decided to hand over nine roads in Gilgit-Baltistan, with a combined length of 461 kilometres, to the National Highway Authority.

Abbas said residents of Gilgit-Baltistan would not have to pay toll tax on these roads after their transfer to the NHA.

He added that several other matters were deferred during the meeting.

The information minister said the cabinet also reviewed the law and order situation.

He referred to incidents in Gilgit and Skardu that followed the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Abbas said the cabinet expressed regret over the deaths of at least 20 people in clashes between protesters and security forces.

He said a judicial commission set up to investigate the incidents had made progress over the past three weeks and that those found involved would be brought to justice.

Abbas said the cabinet appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their role in bringing about a ceasefire between the United States and Iran through diplomacy.

He said the cabinet praised Pakistan’s diplomatic role in helping facilitate a ceasefire between Iran and the United States and in bringing both countries to the table for what he described as a peaceful and lasting resolution of hostilities. He added that Pakistan had helped avert a potential disaster in the Middle East.

The minister also said the cabinet was given a briefing on the establishment of an Asan Khidmat Centre, which he said was based on the concept of providing all services under one roof to improve timely delivery of government services to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.

In addition, the cabinet approved measures aimed at improving the effectiveness of the fuel subsidy for motorcyclists.