GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution to tackle the region’s worsening energy crisis, reaffirming its authority to legislate on electricity generation and regulation.
Lawmakers stressed that the Gilgit-Baltistan Energy Development Organization Act, 2025 and the Gilgit-Baltistan Regulation of Electric Power Services Act, 2025 would be instrumental in resolving longstanding power shortages that have left many areas without electricity for up to 18 hours a day, crippling local businesses and tourism.
During a debate, Member Assembly and President PPP in GB Amjad Hussain warned the Gilgit-Baltistan Council (Upper House) not to obstruct the Assembly’s legislative efforts. He said that under the GB Order 2018, the Council’s role had been reduced to an advisory capacity, and any attempt to act as a regulatory body would be resisted. “If the Council exceeds its mandate, we will move towards demanding its dissolution, just as was done with the Kashmir Council,” he declared.
Amjad accused the Council of financial irregularities, questioning where the funds collected from GB were being deposited after its official accounts were abolished in 2018. He called for an inquiry into the matter and criticized recent politically-motivated appointments in the Gilgit-Baltistan Power Development Board, despite the Council claiming a lack of resources. Highlighting the Assembly’s efforts, he said GB had created a power sector regulatory body and was working to improve billing and collection mechanisms, while also exploring opportunities for green energy investments. He stressed that reforms were essential as the federal power policy had failed to address GB’s unique needs.
“We built energy projects from our own provincial budget while other provinces rely on Wapda investments. Load-shedding persists mainly in urban areas, while rural regions have been largely covered,” he added.
Opposition Member Sohail Abbas Shah supported the stance, saying that the Council must restrict itself to an advisory role and avoid interfering in provincial matters. The resolution, moved by opposition lawmaker Javed Munawar, was unanimously adopted by the House.
