Former Chief Minister Unveils Corruption Nexus in Gilgit Baltistan

Ex-Chief Minister Hafiz Ur Rehman exposes a tangled web of corruption between bureaucrats and local government officials in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan. He highlights the misuse of taxpayer funds meant for public welfare, revealing delayed safety projects and inflated expenditures, according to WTV, a local news outlet.

Hafiz Ur Rehman, the former Chief Minister of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB), recently shed light on a complex web of corruption involving the bureaucracy and local government. In a press conference reported by WTV, a local news organization, Rehman alleged that both entities have formed an unholy alliance to siphon off taxpayer money for their own extravagant lifestyles.

Rehman stated, 'It seems that the government and the local bureaucracy have reached an agreement and have divided the taxpayers' money among themselves, ensuring their corrupt activities go uninterrupted.' He accused the government of making false promises about providing facilities to the public and criticized the local administration for consistently squandering tax resources.

Rehman highlighted that the PoGB budget once stood at PKR 32 billion, with PKR 28 billion allocated for government salaries. Within four years, this figure has ballooned to PKR 66 billion for salaries alone, with total non-development expenditure now at PKR 67 billion. He expressed concern over this increasing trend of financial wastage. Moreover, he revealed the government's negligence in safety initiatives, citing a stalled PKR 28 million Safe City project while current costs have soared to over one billion, rendering the initiative obsolete.

(With inputs from agencies.)