Our Correspondent
Muzaffarabad
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan has directed ministers, secretaries and departments concerned to utilize development funds within due time in a transparent manners. He was presiding over a quarterly review meeting here on Wednesday. Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Dr. Syed Asif Hussain briefed the meeting about the progress on different projects and release of funds in this regard.
The meeting was informed that AJK government has received eleven billion rupees from the federal government for the first and second quarters for the fiscal year 2019-20. The fund has been shifted to the department concerned and there is no issue of cash-flow. The AJK government in the execution of projects is on top as compared to other provinces of Pakistan. Among different departments, Communication and Works Department has spent 80 percent funds.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan thanked federal government for timely release of funds and said now meeting to review progress on development will be convened on monthly basis. He particularly thanked ex Prime Ministers Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former Finance Minister Miftah Ismail for approving sufficient development budget for Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Raja Farooq Haider Khan directed the departments concerned to accomplish water supply schemes in Sensa, Kotli and Muzaffarabad at the earliest. He also directed to the ministers, chief secretary and secretaries not to leave the capital and stay at their respective offices to address peoples’ complaints who are visiting minister’s offices on daily basis.
The meeting also approved two projects of works and communication department costing about one billion rupees. The projects include construction and development of 47 kilometer long link roads in Bhimber and Kotli districts to provide better traveling facilities to people. Senior Minister Chaudhary Tariq Farooq, Minister Works Chaudhary Muhammad Aziz, Minister Electricity Raja Nisar Ahmed Khan, Minister Health Dr. Najeeb Naqi, Minister Food Shoukat Ali Shah, Minister Forests Sardar Mir Akbar, Minister Small Industries Noreen Arif, Minister Sports Nasir Hussain Dar, Minister Civil Defense Ahmed Raza Qadri, Minister Rehabilitation Raja Muhammad Siddique Khan, Minister Prison Chaudhary Muhammad Ishaq, Higher Education Commission Col. (R) Waqar Ahmed Noor, Information Technology Dr. Mustafa Bashir, Power Development Organization Chudhary Rukhsar, Local Government Raja Naseer, Social Welfare Ch. Javed Akthar, Chief Secretary Mathar Niaz Rana , Secretaries and heads of relevant departments attended the meeting. Meanwhile, on the directives of Prime Minister Farooq Haider a special meeting is being summoned soon to review the progress on water supply schemes throughout the state.
