Says federal govt pushing AJK, GB governments against wall
Muzaffarabad, (Parliament Times) : Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan and Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan Barrister Khalid Khurshid have said that it was quite unfortunate that the federal government has been pushing the governments of Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir against wall merely on the basis of political grounds.
The duo said this while addressing a joint press conference here on Thursday. Cabinet ministers, advisers, parliamentary secretaries and assembly members were also present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion they said that after slashing down our budget and share in federal taxes the central government has now withheld our funds.
Terming it as an attempt to push the governments of AJK and GB against wall, they said that the Prime Minister of Pakistan should demonstrate political maturity and stop treating the governments of the two regions differently.
“AJK and GB are the basic units of Pakistan, we should not be pushed against the wall”, they said. They said that the funds of other provinces have been increased by twenty to twenty-five percent, but on the contrary cuts have been imposed on the funds of AJK&GB. Imposing budgetary cuts, they said, have not only impacted the development process but also hurt the sentiments of the people.
They said during his tenure former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan not only provided the required funds to the PML-N government in Azad Kashmir, but also provided substantial additional funds.
On the occasion, the AJK PM Sardar Tanvir Ilyas Khan and CM Gilgit Baltistan reiterated their pledge to bridge the 75-year gap between the two regions (Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan).
They said that construction of Shounter Tunnel would not only reduce the land distance but also help to revive the spiritual ties between the two regions. “We will build Gilgit-Baltistan House in Muzaffarabad and Kashmir House in Gilgit to strengthen our relations”, they said.
The measures to establish a working relationship between the governments of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir would prove an important milestone in the strengthening of Pakistan.
Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan said that the security and survival of Pakistan was our priority. Pakistan, he said, was the center of hope not only for Kashmiris but also for the oppressed nations of the whole world.
He hailed the PTI Chairman Imran Khan for presenting the issue of Kashmir vociferously at international forums.
The AJK Prime Minister while expressing solidarity with flood affected people in Gilgit Baltistan said, “Our brothers of Gilgit-Baltistan are currently more affected by the floods”.
The people at the helm of affairs in the center must realize the problems being faced by the people and government of Azad Kashmir. “We have given pension, disparity allowance and increment to the employees from our own resources”, he said adding that the federal government has refused to provide funds.
He said that Kashmiris have rendered immense sacrifices for Pakistan. “It is the responsibility of the Federal government to solve our problems”. He said that the package of 500 billion rupees announced by the former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan for Azad Kashmir has also been stopped by the incumbent government.
He said that the media can play a vital role to highlight these issues. In response to a question, the AJK PM said that Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan can sign joint agreements for climate change, but the resources have to be provided by the center.
In response to another question, he said that holding a joint protest in front of the Parliament House was their right. He said that the federal government must pay serious attention to resolve these issues.
Replying to another question, the Prime Minister said that the distance between Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan will be reduced to three and a half hours from the Shunter Tunnel. “Plans to start air service in both regions are also under consideration in the future”, he added.