Muzaffarabad, (Parliament Times) : Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Ch. Anwarul Haq congratulated PM Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif on the assumption of the office and expressed good wishes for him.
While addressing the distribution of relief cheques ceremony here on Friday Prime Minister Haq also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Sharif for paying a visit to AJK soon after assuming office and expressing solidarity with Kashmiri people who suffered huge losses during the recent snow and rainfall that hit the region’s upper areas, particularly the Neelum Valley.
Prime Minister Sharif’s visit, he said, would further cement the bond between the people of Azad Kashmir and Pakistan. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s visit and his presence amongst rain and snowfall affected people of the area has increased their courage.”
The people and government of Pakistan have always supported the people and government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir through every thick and thin”, the AJK premier said. To cope with natural calamities effectively, the AJK premier said, ” Better preparedness and concerted efforts are required to minimize the loss of life and property during natural or man-made calamities in Azad Kashmir”. He said that state institutions like SDMA and Rescue 1122 can play an important role in this regard. He said that AJK is one of the regions most affected by climate change. Referring to the natural calamities that hit the region in 2005, 2010, 2014, and 2019, Prime Minister Haq said that the people of the region have witnessed death and destruction at an unprecedented scale. He said that the road infrastructure in AJK was severely damaged due to the landslide, snow, and rainfall.
. The prime minister said that properties were damaged in the entire Azad Kashmir in general and especially within Muzaffarabad and Poonch divisions. It may be recalled here that during the recent snowfall, 8 precious lives were lost 88 houses were destroyed while 221 structures were partially destroyed. Earlier, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Muzaffarabad on a day-long visit to Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Prime Minister Azad Kashmir Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq accorded a warm welcome to him at the helipad.
During the visit, the Prime Minister met and interacted with the rain and snowfall-affected people of the area.
