Altaf Hamid Rao.
MUZAFFARABAD/ MIRPUR (AJK), (Parliament Times) : The Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi has said that all resources will be utilized for the provision of basic amenities of lives to the people of urban and rural areas of the state to bring about socio economic changes and turn the state into a welfare oriented state.He expressed these views while addressing a departmental briefing given by the Department of Local Government and Rural Development here on Friday. He stressed the need for the construction of link roads, bridges, repair and rehabilitation of water supply schemes without any delay and assured that funds for this purpose will be increased to drop the fruits of development at the door steps of the common man. The Prime Minister said that steps will be taken to correct the past mistakes and merit will be ensured and people will see the change within six months. He said representations of women in local body’s elections will be increased to shift the power at the gross route level. The Prime Minister said that all resources will be channeled to make Azad Kashmir a prosperous state by putting into practice the vision of the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan.The Prime Minister underlined the need for utilizing funds of local bodies in a transparent manner to address the problems of the people at local level. The Prime Minister directed to set a limit of at least two lakh rupees for small schemes and physical verification of water filtration plants installed across the state and added that he will not tolerate any kind of embezzlement in the schemes. The Prime Minister said in the past, the schemes were used as political bribes and only schemes are on paper but nothing on the ground and urged the officials to ensure the transparent use of state resources.The Minister for Local government and Rural Development Khawaja Farooq Ahmed was also present on the occasion. Secretary Local Government and Rural Development Ejaz Ahmad Khan briefed the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir about the ongoing development schemes launched by the government for the wellbeing of the people .