Muzaffarabad:Â (Parliament Times) Prime Minister of Azad Jammu Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan encouraged all stakeholders including political parties, civil society organisations to support government in framing youth policy aimed towards creating equal opportunities for youth in politics, education and employment irrespective of class, gender and caste. He was of the view that this policy would cut across the traditional factors of dynastic and caste based politics thereby driving youth towards a society more open and progressive.
He was addressing first youth policy dialogue arranged by Centre for Peace, Development and Reforms in collaboration with British Council in Muzaffarabad under then theme “Our Youth Our Future: Creating Socio-economic and Political Spaces for Young Peopleâ€. He spoke candidly on the challenges and issues faced by his government to improve governance and bring in structural reforms in the education department, which happens to be the largest job provider in AJK. He also spoke at length about the undertaken reforms in Public Service Commission and introduction of NTS for induction to promote merit and transparent induction schemes for youth, which was lauded by young people across the board.
While addressing a diverse gathering of young enthusiastic young people, he once again reaffirmed that his party would reserve 25 percent seats for young people including women in upcoming local bodies’ elections. He pledged that his government would work hard to empower AJK Assembly by curtailing executive and administrative powers of Kashmir Council in the days ahead. While responding to a question Raja Farooq Haider hoped that issues related to royalty/water use charges of hydel power projects located in AJK would be settled down with the WAPDA, besides getting raise in financial allocation from the Federal Government. He also stated that his Government is making a task force of professionals and experts to advise government on good governance, reforms and other issues.
Around 150 youth belonging to different political parties and civil society were very enthusiastic and full of praise to see their elected Prime Minister with them and get the opportunity to interact with him. Many of them raised questions about the performance of incumbent government and future road map to which the premier replied aptly. Speaking on the occasion, Executive Director, Centre for Peace, Development and Reforms Ershad Mahmud shared that around 60% of the AJK population is comprised of youth having a literacy rate of 70%. He was of the opinion that a sustained and constructive dialogue is essential between the political leadership at various positions in the government, and young people to create a facilitating environment, conducive to informed policy-making.
While answering question on increasing unemployment and lack of foreign investment in AJK, Prime Minister, he stated that, his government is doing efforts on making processes like obtaining No Objection Certificate (NoC) to entry to AJK for foreigners more easy and facilitative for investment purposes. On question of lack of business loans and other youth support programs from AJK bank; he stated that he is trying hard to make this a scheduled bank so that it may align its policies and services with the policies of State bank. He announced that Government of AJK would initiate health emergency services from January 2017 fully equipped to treat patients of all nature.
This event was held in collaboration with the British Council that has been working in tandem with civil society in AJK from last few years. UmairTamim, the head for Active Citizenship Programme of the British Council hailed efforts of CPDR and AJK government in arranging such platforms for young people. He stated that idea is to foster better relationship between government and youth and society at large. This helps in policymaking processes and better governance. While setting the context of policy dialogue, Governance and Public Policy expert, Dr. Waqas Ali highlighted the need for more structural reforms in existing governance mechanisms, stressed on capacity building of young people and highlighted issues like unemployment and nepotism in system. On recent cross Line of Control(LoC) firing he stated that, besides loss of lives and property, our flora and fauna in Neelum valley were badly damaged to which most of us remained silent.