Seven PPP Ministers Take Oath in Gilgit-Baltistan Cabinet as IPP Members Miss Ceremony

GILGIT, July 28: The Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Cabinet expanded on Monday as seven Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmakers were sworn in as ministers at the Governor House in Gilgit. Four nominees from the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) could not attend the ceremony due to road closures caused by recent floods.

Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Syed Mehdi Shah administered the oath. The government will announce the ministers’ portfolios later.

The PPP members who took the oath include Zulfiqar Ali Murad, Syed Jalal Shah, Muhammad Ali Akhtar, Naiknam Karim, Iqbal Hassan, Raja Nasir Khan, and Muhammad Naseem. Another PPP nominee, Syed Tuqeer Mahdi, could not attend the ceremony. Flood damage blocked the Baltistan Road and left him stranded in Skardu.

Four IPP nominees missed the ceremony. Chief Minister Advocate Amjad Hussain rejected reports of political differences. He said road closures prevented the ministers from reaching Gilgit.

The chief minister said Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan traveled to Skardu. However, he returned after he could not cross the damaged Baltistan Road.

Political observers have speculated about differences over cabinet representation, with reports suggesting that the IPP had sought a larger share of cabinet positions. The chief minister, however, maintained that there was no dispute within the coalition and that the absence of the IPP members was solely due to transportation difficulties.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, senior government officials, and supporters of the newly appointed ministers.

GB Cabinet Expansion and Flood Challenges

After the ceremony, Chief Minister Amjad Hussain addressed the media. He said climate change has increased glacier melt, GLOFs, flash floods, and landslides across Gilgit-Baltistan.

He stated that major roads, including the Gilgit–Skardu (Baltistan) Road and the Astore Valley Road, remain blocked in several locations. Restoration teams are working around the clock. Heavy machinery is clearing the roads. Strong river flows continue to slow the work.

The chief minister said Thousands of travelers remain stranded on both sides of the Baltistan Road. Meanwhile, many residents of Skardu are facing fuel and food shortages. Relief teams are distributing food packages and drinking water to stranded tourists and local residents.

The chief minister said he crossed a damaged section of the Baltistan Road in an excavator bucket. He said the incident showed how serious the situation has become. He added that Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan was also unable to cross the road because of the ongoing disruption.

At present, the GB Cabinet consists of 14 PPP members, 9 PML-N members, 7 IPP members, 1 Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) member, and 1 PTI-backed independent legislator. A by-election for the GBA-9 Skardu-III constituency is scheduled to take place on September 5, 2026.