In a big relief for the people of Gilgit Baltistan, Federal Power Minister Awais Leghari announced several tax exemptions on goods imported for local consumption.
The minister during his media interaction along with Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, Haji Gulbar Khan, and representatives of the region’s traders’ bodies, said the exemption also include relief from federal levies such as sales tax, income tax, and excise duty.
He thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for entrusting him with the chairmanship of the committee formed on August 17, 2025, to review GB’s trade and community concerns. He said the committee, in just one and a half months, finalized practical, consensus-based recommendations, which have now been approved by the Prime Minister.
Leghari praised the role of the FBR chairman and his team for their cooperation, adding that the entire political leadership of Gilgit-Baltistan contributed meaningfully to the process. He underlined that the Prime Minister had issued clear directives to prioritize the welfare of GB’s people in all aspects of governance.
The minister said that the approved measures would help address hurdles in imports, exports, and transit trade, while creating a more conducive environment for the business community. “This is a significant addition to Pakistan’s economic history, reflecting the vision of inclusive development,” he remarked.
He also mentioned the contributions of senior officials, political leaders, and business representatives, including members of the Supreme Council and the GB Chamber of Commerce, who were present at the press conference. He reiterated the government’s resolve to continue working closely with the people of Gilgit-Baltistan for their prosperity and integration into national progress.
Haji Gulbar Khan, Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, thanked the Government of Pakistan, specifically Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Minister for Power Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, for announcing long-awaited tax exemptions for the region. He commended the federal leadership for fulfilling a longstanding demand of the region’s people and business community.
The CM pointed out the importance of implementing the signed agreement in both letter and spirit to ensure its full benefits are realized across Gilgit-Baltistan. “This is a significant step toward the economic empowerment of Gilgit-Baltistan. We urge the federal authorities to ensure the timely execution of the announced measures,” said CM Gulbar Khan.
Moreover, Ashfaq Ahmed, President of the Gilgit-Baltistan Chamber of Commerce, called on traders to resume cross-border trade activities at the Sost border starting Thursday. He expressed optimism that the tax relief would rejuvenate commercial momentum and strengthen regional trade ties.
Senator Saleem Mandviwala, a member of the committee formed by the Prime Minister to address the concerns of Gilgit-Baltistan’s traders, said that the government was concerned over the suspension of trade between Pakistan and China. He stated that the committee had worked hard to make a viable mechanism for swift resumption of trade activities in Gilgit-Baltistan.
