KOTLI (Kashmir English): Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Faisal Mumtaz Rathore on Monday announced several major development initiatives for Kotli district, including the addition of 50 beds to the DHQ Hospital, approval of a Rs 20 million road scheme, and directives for master planning of a 25-kilometre ring road project.
These announcements were made during an important review meeting chaired by the Prime Minister in the committee room of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Kotli, where a detailed review was conducted of ongoing and proposed development projects, law and order, education, health, tourism, and basic civic facilities.
The meeting was attended by President Pakistan Peoples Party AJK Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin, Ministers Javed Iqbal Badhanvi, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Minister for Information and Auqaf Chaudhry Muhammad Rafique Nayyar, Minister for Finance Chaudhry Muhammad Akhlaq, Minister for Local Government Aamir Yasin Chaudhry, Commissioner Mirpur Division, DIG Mirpur Region, PSO to the Prime Minister Usman Mumtaz Butt, Deputy Commissioner Raja Imran Shaheen, SP Adeel Ahmed Langrial, and senior officers of concerned departments.
The meeting reviewed the overall law and order situation, police manpower issues, establishment of separate police stations for women, road infrastructure, local government affairs, and encroachments.
The Prime Minister was also briefed on steps being taken to promote tourism and archaeology in the district.
President PPP Azad Kashmir, Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin, sought a briefing regarding the design of Gulpur Bridge, to which XEN Ishtiaq Mughal said that practical progress on this project is expected within a month.
The meeting also discussed in detail the 25-kilometer-long ring road project, and PM AJK directed the conduct of its master planning.
The meeting was informed that the grid stations have been overloaded, and the process of upgradation is underway by WAPDA. The ministers raised questions related to various sectors and sought clarifications from the relevant departments.
The meeting was informed by the Food Department that there is an ample quantity of flour in the district and there is no shortage.
While considering the problem of parking in the city, it was suggested that the Food Department warehouse be shifted out of the city so that urban traffic and parking problems can be reduced.
Regarding the municipality, solid waste management was declared a major problem in the meeting. The Prime Minister clarified that a modern solid waste management and waste disposal system would be introduced in Azad Kashmir.
The Deputy Commissioner presented a comprehensive plan based on a public-private partnership to improve the sanitation system, to which the Prime Minister agreed and directed that a detailed report be submitted after reviewing it again within two weeks.
While discussing the education sector, the meeting was informed that there are 38 schools in the district that do not have their own buildings. On the issue of water shortage, it was informed that the tendering process is underway in this regard, while Rs 215 million has been allocated for water projects.
Regarding urban planning, a detailed discussion was held on the master plan, solid waste management, parking, and dock action. Chaudhry Yasin directed the Mayor of the Municipality to expedite the bidding process for the lorry dock, while the Deputy Commissioner was directed to identify three government sites for parking and take immediate action.
The meeting also considered the issues of encroachment and sewage. The Prime Minister issued clear instructions for indiscriminate action against encroachments, while the Commissioner proposed changes in the building laws.
The issues of encroachments in the River Garden project and housing schemes under KDA were also discussed in detail.
In the health sector, the Prime Minister announced an increase of 50 beds in the DHQ Hospital. In addition, approval was given to bring a scheme of Rs. 2 crore for the roads around the Hawai Jahaz ground.
At the end of the meeting, Prime Minister Rathore directed all the concerned departments to use their powers and initiate practical steps for the public welfare and convenience. Priority should be given to the removal of encroachments, rehabilitation of roads, and improvement of civic facilities so that real relief can be provided to the public.
At the end of the meeting, the ministers appreciated the briefing prepared by the Deputy Commissioner. Earlier, when the Prime Minister reached the DC office, a police contingent saluted him.
