ISLAMABAD, Oct 11: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Tahir Iqbal on Wednesday said the government would hire qualified professionals from Northern Areas for tourism and mineral development projects and capacity development in the region.

The minister, who is also chief executive of the NA Legislative Council, said the government had been successful in maintaining law and order in Northern Areas for six months.

“Strict measures are being taken to maintain peace in the area. I have asked advisers of the NA Legislative Council to play a proactive role in this regard and establish linkages with religious leaders of their respective sects,” he said.

He said maintenance of law and order was necessary for progress and development, adding that anyone who created law and order situation in the NAs would be dealt with iron hands.

Answering a question, the minister said he had directed the advisers to set targets for their respective departments and pursue them effectively and efficiently.

“My aim is to establish a foolproof governance system for smooth functioning of the government in Northern Areas. I have made it clear that corruption or violation of rules would not be tolerated and elements involved in it will be rooted out,” he said.

The chief executive said pending promotion cases in NAs would be finalised within two months and a coherent promotion and recruitment policy would be devised, which would be strictly followed.

About complaints of NA government officials’ non-cooperation with elected representatives, the minister said administration mechanism in various departments of Northern Areas would be streamlined and powers would be rightfully delegated to ensure proper functioning of the departments.

“I have also directed the advisers to conduct regular briefings on each and every development project of their departments and maintain periodical reports,” he said, adding that he had asked the deputy chief executive and advisers to monitor prices in NAs.

Mr Iqbal said he would request Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to direct authorities for opening utility stores in each tehsil headquarters of Northern Ares.

He criticised the death sentence to Afzal Guru, a Muslim youth sentenced by the Indian Supreme Court for plotting the 2001 attack on the Indian parliament.

“Such a punishment to an accused who had pleaded not guilty is violation of basic human rights and it would hurt feelings of Kashmiri Muslims on both sides of the Line of Control,” he said.

He hoped that the clemency appeal by Afzal Guru’s family would be accepted by the Indian president. He added that the Pakistan government was examining the situation. “We expect that the matter would be resolved amicably and Guru would be pardoned,” he said.

—APP