RAWALAKOT (Kashmir English): The Government of Pakistan has closed the offices of the Protector of Emigrants in Rawalakot and Bagh, effective from July 1, citing financial constraints and reportedly low public usage.
As per details, one of the reasons given was the low public usage; however, a large number of youth from the Poonch division who wanted to travel abroad for employment were benefiting from this office.
Source suggest that the reasons given may be linked to alleged mismanagement by Assistant Director Jamil Butt, who purportedly showed reluctance to attend office regularly. The Assistant Director used to visit the office occasionally in a month.
Despite the office’s potential benefits for youth seeking employment abroad, the local population has demanded the immediate suspension of the notification.
The people of the area have demanded that the government immediately suspend this notification; otherwise, they will protest strongly.
A civil society delegation, led by Sardar Adnan Raziq and Tahir Ishaq Khan, met with SSP Poonch Riaz Mughal, requesting a two-day stay on the office’s records transfer. A formal request has been submitted to the district police.
Following the request, staff of the Protector Office were barred from shifting office records from Rawalakot. Sardar Adnan Raziq has issued an ultimatum to the government, stating that if the notification is not revoked by tomorrow, a strong protest will be staged in Rawalakot on Friday.
