Muzaffarabad:Â AJK Minister for Education, Barrister Iftikhar Ali Geelani has disclosed that construction work on King Abdullah University has been suspended by Saudi government.
Responding to the question posed by ruling party member of AJK Legislative Assembly, Raja Abdul Qayyum Khan on Friday, and the minister told the house that construction work on Chhatta Campus of the University started in 2011 with the financial assistance Saudi Arabia government but funding has never been transferred to Pakistan. The Saudi government paid directly to the contractor of the project on the basis of work done. Earlier the ERRA had cancelled the project in consent with the Saudi government due to breach of some contractual obligation.
The Saudi government, minister education said hired the consulting services of Al- Teraz firm, which is now engaged in preparation of documents for re-bidding of the project. The Minister further said after completion of bidding process, the successful bidder would be made bound to submit work plan for the completion of the project within the stipulated period.
Responding to another question, Minister for Forest, Sardar Mirakbar Khan said that two PC-1 of plantation in the catchment area of Neelum Jehlum Hydropower Generation Project have been submitted to WAPDA for approval and release of funds. He told that Under the Noseeri Nosada project, 1.5 million sapling were to planted in 1975 acre area besides other measures for soil conservation
Earlier when the Legislative Assembly resumed its session in Muzaffarabad with Dy. Speaker Sardar Farooq Ahmed Tahir in the chair, Law Minister, Raja Nisar Ahmed presented the reports of relevant committees on draft bills of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Electoral Rules Amendment Ordinance 2016 and Azad Jammu and Kashmir Motor Vehicle Amendement Ordinance 2016 in the house. The House unanimously passed both draft bills.
Five other draft bills were referred to relevant committees for review and necessary amendments.
Speaking on the occasion Leader of the House Raja Farooq Haider Khan said that duration of questions hour should be increased for effective representation of the members. He said that government is ready to answer all the questions asked by the house. Meanwhile various resolutions were also passed by the house including condemnation of terrorist attacks at Police Training Center Quetta.
