MUZAFFARABAD: (Parliament Times) The AJK Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan met here on Tuesday.
The cabinet decided to constitute a committee for a number of measures including holding of local body elections under AJK Election Commission, setting up food authority on the pattern of Punjab government to check the adulteration in food items, immediate payment of 4 lakh rupees to workers/labourers in accidental death during duty hours, inclusion of on-hold current projects to next fiscal years’ budget, approval of AJK Ministers’ salary & allowances ordinance 2017 and adaptation of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Electronics Act 2017.
The food authority would comprise of members and a Chairman. Its members include Secretaries health, agriculture and local government, three members of AJK legislative assembly, one each representative of AJK Chamber of Commerce, food industry and food operators. The committee will elaborate its TORs and operational system of the authority. The cabinet also decided to set up a laboratory for food testing. Deciding to amend AJK Workmen’s Compensation Act 2016 the committee enhanced accidental death payment to a worker/labourer’s heir from 2 lakh rupees to 4 lakh.
Another committee headed by Law Minister was constituted by the cabinet for industrial development, facilities to industrialists and for promotion of industry. Minister for Industry, Minister for Sports, Secretary Finance and Secretary Industries would be its members. The committee would submit its report within a month.
The cabinet meeting decided to include the on-hold current projects to the next fiscal year’s budget.
The cabinet also directed the EC to complete its demarcation process at the earliest to hold the local body polls.
Yet another committee headed by Information Minister was formed for AJK prevention of electronic crimes act 2017. Secretary Law and Secretary Information would be its members. The committee would submit its recommendations on cyber crimes and legislation for electronic media.
Senior Minister Ch. Tariq Farooq, Finance Minister Dr. Najeeb Naqi, Forests Minister Sardar Mir Akbar Khan, Minister for Social Welfare Mohtarma Noreen Arif, Information Minister Raja Mushtaq Minhas, Education Minister Barrister Iftikhar Gillani, Minister for Sports, Youth and Culture Ch. Muhammad Saeed, Syed Shaukat Ali Shah, Chaudhry Muhammad Aziz, Nasir Dar and Acting Chief Secretary Dr. Syed Asif Hussain Shah attended the cabinet meeting.
