MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has decided to make payment of arrears against completed or ongoing development schemes sanctioned and allotted by the AJK Council before the withdrawal of its administrative and fiscal powers under the 13thamendment to the AJK’s constitution.

A high level meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider here the other day, however deferred decision on release of funds for yet-to-be initiated schemes till some time next.

Before the passage of 13thamendment, the AJK council was running a parallel development network from its secretariat in Islamabad and handsome amount was spared in each annual budget for development schemes at the discretion of prime minister of Pakistan, federal minister for Kashmir affairs, AJK president, prime minister and six elected council members.

The council, which wielded administrative control of the AJK income tax department among some other institutions, was deducting 20pc of the income tax generated from the AJK territory for its administrative and developmental expenditures.

However, there had been widespread public outcry over alleged favouritism and corruption in allocation and execution of schemes, particularly because of the absence of any effective monitoring and accountability regime.

The 13th amendment, passed by the joint sitting of the AJK assembly and AJK council in June last year, stripped the council of administrative and financial powers, in a move that has not gone well in the circle of ‘beneficiaries’ to this day.

The meeting was told that AJK government had not been given the record of the council which had subsequently hampered the payment of arrears.

Nevertheless, payments against Rs 280 million worth schemes approved by the elected council members at their discretion had been released through the AJK local government and rural development (LG&RD) department.

The meeting learned that council’s income, according to its approved budget for 2017-18, was Rs 17 billion but expenditures to the tune of Rs 19 billion were made, thus leaving a deficit of Rs 2 billion in the previous fiscal year.

It was also told that after the approval of 13th amendment, only liabilities of the council had been passed on to the AJK government and not the assets.

The AJK government was meeting all administrative expenditures of council secretariat from its budget, including salaries of the largely redundant staff.

The prime minister made it clear that since the development wing of council secretariat stood dissolved there was no justification to revive 20pc share [of income tax] for the council, as was being demanded by some quarters.

The meeting constituted a high powered committee, comprising of minister for communications and works (C&W) Chaudhry Mohammad Aziz, minister for health Dr Najeeb Naqi, chief secretary Mathar Niaz Rana, additional chief secretary development Dr Syed Asif Hussain, secretary finance Farid Tarar, secretary C&W Mohammad Ishaque to work out a strategy, in consultation with the council secretariat, for payment of arrears and completion of the ongoing schemes, approved by the council.

The meeting also discussed the issue of Jammu and Kashmir state property located in different cities of Pakistan, which was given under the administrative control of the Federal Ministry of Kashmir Affairs during the imposition of martial law in Pakistan.

Premier Haider, who was of the view that privatisation of Kashmir property could not be carried out, expressed the hope that the federal government would ensure protection of state property.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2019