Federal Cabinet approves Northern Areas reforms package

August 29, 2009

Federal cabinet with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in chair Saturday approved self-governance reforms package for the Northern Areas. According to the package Northern Areas have been given autonomous status. In the new setup Northern Areas will be called Gilgit-Baltistan and the region would have its own legislative assembly and cabinet. The constitutional head of the region will be called governor and federal minister for information Qamar Zaman Kaira will be the first governor of the Gilgit-Baltistan region. Gilgit-Baltistan Council will be comprised of 15 members. The Prime Minister of Pakistan will be the head of the council.