MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Azad Kashmir Minister Ahmed Raza Qadri, in an exclusive interview with Kashmir Digital, stated that the Joint Awami Action Committee JAAC itself is not clear about its agenda and keeps changing its demands, which complicates the situation rather than moving towards resolution.
During the interview, the AJK Minister stated that these complex issues cannot be resolved overnight, and detailed negotiations with the Pakistan government are inevitable on this.
The JAAC had initially demanded that commercial bills be provided at a subsidized rate up to 40 kV load, which was supported by the Azad Kashmir government and federal ministers, but the committee took the position that this was a six-month-old demand, and now their new demand is at 160 kV.
According to Ahmed Raza Qadri, this contradiction shows that the committee itself is not clear about its demands.
He said that there is a decision of the Azad Kashmir High Court, on which it is necessary to sit down and discuss with the Pakistan government, but this process cannot be possible overnight.
Ahmed Raza Qadri also discussed issues related to flour. He said that the Public Action Committee wants a generalized subsidy but refuses to accept a targeted subsidy.
The Azad Kashmir government introduced a targeted subsidy two years ago instead of giving equal subsidy to both the rich and the poor, so that the subsidy reaches only the deserving people.
He said that the total population of Azad Kashmir is not more than 2 million, but the calculations are being done according to a population of 4.5 million.
The government purchases 300,000 maunds of flour annually from PASSCO and provides it at the rate of Rs 2,000 per maund. A large number of people from Azad Kashmir are living in Pakistan and abroad for employment.
Ahmed Raza Qadri said that it is illogical to give equal subsidy to both the rich and the poor, but the Public Action Committee is objecting to this policy as well. He said that there should be a targeted subsidy on flour, too.
