MUZAFFARABAD: The Cabinet Development Committee (CDC) of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has approved 33 projects in the communications and works (C&W) sector worth Rs16.32 billion.

A meeting presided over by Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas here reviewed the projects of 620 kilometres long roads by the C&W Department under the “Kashmir Development Package,” according to an official handout.

Of these roads, 220km were approved for the southern districts of Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur and 400km for the northern districts of Muzaffarabad, Neelum valley, Jhelum valley, Bagh, Haveli, Poonch and Sudhnoti.

In addition, the meeting approved construction/reconditioning of 30-km-long roads in constituencies LA-3 and LA-4 of district Mirpur and 18-km-long road from Chattar Klass to Danna in district Muzaffarabad.

Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister stressed the need for timely completion of the projects “without an iota of compromise on standard and quality of the arteries.”

Stability of land as well as plantation of trees on either side of roads should be ensured to prevent landslides, he directed, adding roads should be designed in the best possible manner and the tourism department should also be taken on board in this regard so that the construction of new arteries could provide an easy access to the tourist resorts.

The prime minister said weighing scales should also be installed on all main highways so that overloaded vehicles did not damage them.

These projects, he added, would be reviewed through the ‘third party’ so as to ensure their construction in accordance with the laid down specifications.

Budget cuts

Regarding the federal government’s alleged decision to slash AJK’s development budget and share from the variable grant, Mr Ilyas said the liberated territory [AJK] could not afford budget cuts in view of its peculiar needs and sensitivities.

“We are holding consultations on the option of not presenting our budget if the decision to impose cuts on our budget is not reversed by Islamabad.”

During the meeting, Finance Minister Abdul Majid Khan drew the attention of the prime minister towards a “baseless propaganda campaign” that a no-confidence motion against him (PM) was on the cards.

Responding to it, Mr Ilyas made it clear that PTI was the majority party in the Legislative Assembly with 32 seats and “there was no bar on daydreaming [by its opponents].”

“Neither the liberated territory can afford political and administrative instability nor will we allow any such thing to happen,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.