In
early 2020, the government made a significant decision to slash the job
quota for Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) to a meager one percent. This move’s
outcome became starkly evident in the aftermath, particularly highlighted by
the Federal Public Service Commission’s (FPSC) advertisement Case No.
F.4-51/2020-R (3/2020), concerning the filling of 157 Appraisers positions in
the Revenue Division. Out of these, only one post was allocated for
Gilgit-Baltistan, while five were designated for FATA and four for AJK. This
allocation sparked profound disappointment and resentment among the populace of
GB.
This
mode of new dispensation has become rife insofar as allocation of federal jobs
in all federal ministries and other institutions since then. The decision,
seemingly a fallout from GB’s separation from the GB/FATA combination,
contradicts expectations for a comprehensive approach to tackle longstanding
issues. It is perceived as unjust and inequitable, directly undermining the
essence of the quota system and worsening the economic challenges faced by GB’s
educated yet unemployed youth.
Chief
Minister’s Appeal to the Prime Minister
A highly commendable step has been taken recently by the Chief Minister of
Gilgit-Baltistan in his impassioned appeal to the Prime Minister of Pakistan
regarding the crucial matter of ‘Equity and Inclusion for Gilgit-Baltistan’s
Youth in Islamabad’s Institutions.’ In his letter, as emanating from social
media the other day, he states:
No.CM-Do-1(23)/2024,
26th April, 2024
SUBJECT:
JOB QUOTA FOR THE RESIDENTS OF GILGIT-BALTISTAN IN ISLAMABAD CAPITAL TERRITORY
(ICT)
Respected Sir, (Assalamo Alaikum)
I hope this letter finds you in the best of health and high spirits. I am
writing to express sincere gratitude for your ongoing dedication to the welfare
of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. Your efforts to integrate the region into
the broader development framework of Pakistan have been commendable, and the
residents of Gilgit-Baltistan are deeply grateful.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to draw your urgent attention to a
matter of paramount importance for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, particularly
the youth who fervently seek employment opportunities. As Islamabad continues
to burgeon, being the administrative and social nucleus of Pakistan, it is
imperative that job opportunities in its government institutions are rigorously
observed.
However, it has come to our profound dismay that the quota allocated by the
Establishment Division for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan is blatantly
disregarded when advertising posts in various institutions of the ICT. This
egregious oversight results in a distressing lack of representation, erecting
significant barriers to the inclusion and integration of Gilgit-Baltistan’s
youth into the mainstream national institutions.
The residents of Gilgit-Baltistan have consistently demonstrated their
unwavering commitment and loyalty to Pakistan, and it is only equitable that
they are afforded equal opportunity in accordance with their designated share.
Your decisive action on this matter would not only nurture a profound sense
of inclusion and equality but also demonstrate your visionary leadership and
compassionate governance.
I implore you to give this matter the earnest consideration it deserves and
to take decisive action so that the youth of Gilgit-Baltistan are granted a
fair chance to compete for upcoming positions in the ICT Social Security
Institutions, ICT Labour Department, and various other roles offered in ICT
institutions.
Thank you for your invaluable time and attention. I eagerly anticipate your
favorable response.
With profound regards.
It is fervently believed and sanguinely hoped that this will evoke a
favorable action in the context of an equitable federal jobs’ quota for GB,
considering and keeping with the economic woes of this region. Let it be
unequivocally stated that despite GB’s significant sacrifices and economic
hurdles, its exclusion from national decision-making bodies perpetuates the
neglect of its needs. The unresolved constitutional status, intertwined with
the Kashmir dispute, further complicates the situation. Despite promises to tap
into GB’s natural resources, effective mechanisms to harness its human
potential remain conspicuously absent. This not only hampers the region’s
development but also deepens the sense of alienation and disenfranchisement
among its people.
Demographically, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) sustains a population of
approximately 2.8 million, primarily reliant on mountain agriculture in terrain
renowned for its inhospitality. Devoid of any industrial base and private
sector prospects, the already constrained job quota further compounds the
region’s economic challenges, deepening the disillusionment felt by GB’s young
populace.
Within the economic landscape of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), the Sino-Pak border
trade emerges as not just a vital economic lifeline but a historical echo of
the region’s past commercial glory. Since the opening of the Khunjerab Pass in
1986, trade between China and Pakistan has flourished, reminiscent of the
ancient Silk Route era when vibrant trade and commerce links thrived between
these regions. This trade corridor presents crucial economic opportunities for
local communities, mirroring their historical connections with the bordering
Xinjiang Region.
In response to these opportunities, unemployed youth from GB often receive
border passes, symbolizing a revival of the historic people-to-people exchanges
that once facilitated unhindered trade and commerce links across these borders.
However, a significant hurdle obstructs the path to economic empowerment: the
absence of clear regulations governing baggage allowances for these border pass
holders. This regulatory vacuum that persists for the last 38 years must be
addressed by the federal government to rationalize and amplify the issuance of
border passes by the GB government, rendering them both logical and meaningful.
While these youths possess the freedom to travel, they encounter formidable
barriers in importing merchandise due to the complexities of taxation. The
absence of ‘special baggage rules’ tailored for border pass holders further
exacerbates their plight, hindering their ability to establish sustainable
livelihoods.
Consequently, there is an urgent need for the federal government to
intervene and enact streamlined regulations that facilitate the smooth
importation of goods by border pass holders, thereby empowering them to
capitalize on the economic opportunities offered by the Sino-Pak border trade.
Only through such proactive measures can the potential of GB’s youth be fully
realized, fostering not just individual prosperity but also the overall
economic development of the region. Addressing this challenge demands a concerted
effort to streamline border trade regulations, ensuring that GB’s youth can
fully harness this economic avenue. By establishing transparent guidelines and
allowances for merchandise transportation across the border, authorities can
empower local youth to engage in trade activities that not only benefit their
economic well-being but also contribute to the overall prosperity of
Gilgit-Baltistan.
In essence, the reduction of GB’s job quota within such a challenging
economic landscape is perceived as arbitrary and oppressive, failing to
alleviate the region’s economic burdens. It underscores the pressing need for a
just and comprehensive approach to address GB’s longstanding grievances and
integrate it effectively into Pakistan’s broader development framework.
The
reduction of the job quota in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) serves as a poignant
reflection of deeper-rooted historical and systemic neglect, compounded by the
region’s ambiguous constitutional status. Despite being categorized as a
“Special Territory,” GB lacks the full provincial status accorded to other
regions, consequently depriving it of proportional representation in pivotal
decision-making bodies. This diminution of the job quota not only exacerbates
GB’s existing economic challenges but also perpetuates its marginalized status
within the national framework.
Historically,
GB has grappled with exclusion from federal job opportunities, with sporadic
inclusions only emerging from the 1960s onwards. However, these limited
inclusions have proven insufficient in ameliorating the region’s economic
disparities. The absence of adequate representation in national policy-making
spheres intensifies GB’s sense of deprivation, starkly contrasting with the
treatment afforded to other regions.
Economically,
GB faces distinctive hurdles owing to its rugged mountainous terrain and
constrained agricultural potential. The region comprises a vast area of 28,000
square miles, but only one percent remains under agriculture, while another one
percent awaits irrigation through strenuous efforts using modern
mountain-farming technologies. Mounting demographic pressures and land
fragmentation further impede agricultural productivity, leaving livestock
breeding as a precarious livelihood option for many.
Moreover,
the scarcity of professional colleges and universities curtails educational and
economic avenues for the region’s youth, exacerbating the cycle of economic
stagnation. Given the formidable challenges confronting Gilgit-Baltistan’s
economy, a multifaceted strategy is imperative to alleviate its entrenched
economic disparities. This strategy necessitates a comprehensive reassessment
of the job quota system, accompanied by the establishment of a specialized
quota tailored specifically for GB’s youth within autonomous and
semi-autonomous organizations.
Such
proactive measures are indispensable for harnessing the region’s remarkably
diligent, industrious, and principled workforce, thereby mitigating the
profound economic adversities it confronts and fostering sustainable
development in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). GB boasts an unprecedented workforce
distinguished by its unwavering commitment, resilience, and integrity, eagerly
awaiting opportunities for overseas employment.
It is
imperative for relevant federal ministries to develop and execute tailored
programs aimed at integrating these industrious individuals into the wider
economic landscape. Recently, during an encounter in Rawalpindi, I had the
privilege of conversing with a native of GB, Wali Jan (License No.
MPD/2930/Rwp), deeply involved in facilitating overseas employment for his
fellow GB residents. In our brief interaction, he underscored his personal
commitment to expanding overseas job prospects for GB’s youth. Remarkably, he
shared his success in facilitating the employment of over eight hundred GB
youths abroad within a mere three-year period.
Clearly,
the provincial government of Gilgit-Baltistan must actively advocate for a
substantial increase in the job quota allocated to the region, aligning with
its acute economic challenges. Such advocacy is vital to ensure that GB’s youth
receive equitable opportunities in both national and international job markets,
thus fostering the socio-economic development of the region.
The
economic difficulties confronting Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) are deeply entrenched
in its historical reliance on subsistence farming and livestock breeding,
practices that have become insufficient due to population growth and
environmental factors. While these traditional activities sustained households
in the past, the scarcity of arable land and vegetation renders them
unproductive today. Moreover, livestock breeding, integral to mountain
agriculture, has declined due to GB’s rugged terrain and limited pastureland.
The region’s unique geography, with only one percent of its land suitable for
agriculture, exacerbates its economic challenges. Unlike other areas benefiting
from monsoon rains, GB remains devoid of vegetation, further hampering
agricultural productivity.
GB’s
economic challenges are further compounded by its ambiguous constitutional
status and a history of neglect in quota allocation for federal jobs. Despite
being designated as a “Special Territory,” GB lacks adequate representation in
national decision-making bodies, severely hampering its prospects for
development. The recent reduction in the federal job quota only serves to
deepen the socio-economic disparities within the region, underscoring the
urgent need for a comprehensive approach to redress its longstanding
grievances.
Notably,
the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA) reportedly passed unanimously
a resolution sometime back, calling for an increase in the federal job quota to
four percent. This decision reflects a recognition of the region’s economic
hardships and enjoys consensus across all political parties. It is incumbent
upon the regional chapters of national mainstream parties to vigorously
advocate for this cause and actively engage with their central leadership to
ensure a timely resolution.
Effectively addressing these pressing issues demands a concerted effort to prioritize GB’s economic development and mitigate its socio-economic disparities. Only through collaborative action and steadfast advocacy can meaningful progress be achieved in advancing the well-being and prosperity of Gilgit-Baltistan and its people.
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