Interim Budget Highlights Gilgit-Baltistan’s Persistent Dependence on Federal Funding

The Gilgit-Baltistan government presented an interim budget for the first four months of the 2026–27 fiscal year, projecting total available resources of Rs. 158.54 billion. This budget aims to maintain the functionality of government departments, highlighting the region's substantial financial needs which currently exceed available funds. The presentation underscores Gilgit-Baltistan's ongoing reliance on federal funding to meet its financial obligations and sustain its operations. This dependence is a critical issue as the interim nature of the budget suggests a longer-term financial plan is still being developed, and the disparity between needs and available resources indicates a persistent challenge for the region's fiscal autonomy.