Muzaffarabad: (Parliament Times) The Prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan has said that two-fold increase in the development budget for AJK was manifestation of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s love and affinity with the people of Azad Kashmir.
The AJK premier made these assertions while talking to a well attended press conference at Directorate General of Public Relations here on Monday. Khan was of the view that, with the keen interest of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif the AJK development budget had been increased by Rs.10 billions. He said that each penny of the resources would be spent carefully for the uplift and betterment of common masses. He said that transparency in the use of funds in different development projects going on in the region would be ensured at all levels through a proper monitoring system. He said that granting of share to AJK,Gilgit Baltastan and FATA in NFC Award would be finalized in July in a meeting with chief ministers of all four provinces.
The Prime Minister advised the media and civil society to adopt national stances on issues of national importance. Rather than wasting time on petty issues, he asked the opposition to join hands with the government for the development of the State and resolving of national issues. He said government does not want to push the opposition to the wall rather “we do believe in mutual cooperation and coordination for broader interests of the Stateâ€.
He made it clear that any body involved in corruption would face the music of accountability. “We want to take opposition on board on important issues like Kashmir and other issues of national interestâ€, Khan said adding that there was a dire need to AJK back on the path of economic development. He maintained that developmental budget would be visible on the ground after the quality construction, and in time completion of the projects would be ensured.
He said it’s impossible to offer job to everyone in public sector, government would try to create employment opportunities for the people by encouraging investment in private sector in the State. He reiterated his resolve to improve system by holding the secretaries and heads of the departments responsible and accountable who don’t achieve departmental targets. Transfers of civil servants he said was part of service and opposition shouldn’t make noise at the routine transfers of the government employees.
He, however, said that government would welcome wholeheartedly if there were any genuine concerns and positive proposals from the opposition. The AJK PM also praised the talent and efficiency of the bureaucracy as well.
The Prime Minister broke the good news of the approval of Rs.18 billions for the construction of tunnel on Neelum road. The Prime Minister said the AJK has great potential in tourism and hydroelectric sectors saying that the survey of the mega project of “Tourism Corridor†has been finalized and it would be presented to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the final approval, very soon. “By the completion of Tourism Corridor People of the State would get opportunities of employment and general prosperity would prevail,” he said.
He said some political parties were creating hurdles in the way of rapid development of the State by practicing the negative politics. He said the AJK will be self reliant in power production by 2022. He said under the CPEC, the construction of Mansehra Muzaffarabad road would be started soon. He said the government has launched free health emergency services in AJK successfully by spending Rs.16 Crores while 284 posts of nurses were created in the state so the patients could be attended in the better way.
He said some 3770 ad hoc and contractual employees were in service in AJK right now and a committee has been formed to prepare a strategy and recommendations to decide about the future of these employees.
AJK minister for education Barrister Iftikhar Gillani, minister for Transport Nasir Dar, additional chief secretary development Syed Asif Shah, secretary Information, Tourism and Information Technology Board Mansoor Qadir Dar and DG Information Raja Azhar Iqbal were also present on the occasion.