Budget Speech: PM AJK announces host of initiatives to uplift weaker segments of society

Muzaffarabad(Parliament Times): Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan, has expressed the optimism that the real change for which the PTI has been struggling would take place soon in Azad Kashmir and the people would be able to materialize their dreams.Addressing a budget session here on Thursday, the PM while hailing the budget proposed for the next financial year announced a host of new initiatives to improve lives of low income and underprivileged segments of the society.In view of the surging inflation and rising prices of essential commodities, the PM announced to increase refugee allowance, Zakat and dowry fund and revision of pay scales and allowances for government employees particularly the peons and watchmen.“I announce an increase of Rs. 1500 per person in the Refugees’ Sustenance Allowance, 3000 rupees zakat per month for poor and needy”, the PM said adding that the dowry fund was also being increased to Rs. 75000.The PM also announced for the appointment of Muftis in 5 districts and 17 tehsils. He said that Quran academies would be set up in Muzaffarabad, Mirpur and Bhimber.For the homeless, the PM said that the government was planning to construct flats for the poor and deserving people in collaboration with Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (KORT).“In the first phase, 900 flat-style houses will be constructed for the deserving in Mirpur”, he added. “The land will be provided by the Azad Kashmir government and the project will be extended to 3,000 to 4,000 houses”, he said adding that 500 houses would be constructed in Mirpur for police personnel and the families of those martyred in terrorist incidents in Pakistan. The Azad Kashmir government, he said, would pay 50 per cent of the loss of the Bakarwal tribe caused by the snowfall in Neelam on June 22. The prime minister said that the government would provide 1000 thousand scholarships to deserving students. In order to boost small industry, the PM said that 1200 people would be trained in Punjab for the promotion of cottage industry. He said that loans worth Rs. 30 crore would be given to women entrepreneurs. He said that the government was also planning to restore the Numberdari and Panchayat system in the state. He announced to establish, Rehmat-ul-Ulameen authority in the state to teach life of prophet Muhammad (SAW) to new generation and spread the Prophet’s message of peace, love and interfaith harmony. The PM while expressing solidarity with the people of the occupied Kashmir said that India should shun its traditional policy of intransigence to pave a way for peaceful solution of the Kashmir dispute. Terming Modi as a murderer of Kashmiris, the PM said that Modi’s hands were soaked with the blood of thousands of innocents. Regarding the improvement in the education sector, the PM said that it has been decided to upgrade 86 primary schools to middle schools, 56 middle schools to high schools and 61 high schools to higher secondary schools. Likewise, the PM said that 45 inter colleges were being upgraded. He said that 496 Quran teachers, 396 Forest department and IT employees were being made permanent. On local body elections, the PM said, “We are moving towards the local body elections. We will request the court to give some time in this regard”.