MUZAFFARABAD:
Suspension of funds by the federal government for new developmental schemes in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has irked the state government.
Talking to the media, Rehabilitation Minister Abdul Majid Khan said that the government has not introduced any new project in AJK during the past one year.
Apart from development schemes from the Planning Commission of Pakistan (PCP), the Development Working Party (DWP) is also not approving any projects.
“Billions were allocated in the budget under [PSDP] for development projects however, the Planning Commission has spent most of it on projects in Punjab but have nothing so far in AJK,” the minister said.
Khan further said they had raised the issue with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and the top PPP leadership but to no avail.
“Despite the AJK budget being unanimously approved, we are not being allowed to use the money and this attitude from the federal government hampers the development in the region,” he insisted.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2014.
COMMENTS (4)
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@Sardar Rustum: the total budget of the AJK for the year 2013-14 is only Rs. 15.95 billion I repeat Rs,. 15.95 billion. So where from Rs. 40 billion is misused ? . your comment that Rs. 20 billion is being spent on education only. there is a limit of lying. Please check the figures of Budget and its allocation on education which is available in public domain.
Delete the ward Azad from Azad Jammu & Kashmir.What sort of azadi people are enjoying. ?Do ask from yourselves.
Oh! But isn't "Azad Kashmir", Azad Kashmir?
90 per cent money more than Rs 40 Billion in AJK is being misused by one lakh people and the final solution to stop the corruption in the region is to merge it into Pakistan. The local leaders are using AJK on the name of Kashmir liberation movement to earn their livelihood in billions since 1947. No Public Service Commission and Baradariism is on top which is the final yard stick in the region to get govt jobs. Imagine 20 Billion rupees are being spent on Education while a teacher is getting more than one lakh rupees salary monthly and the result is 5 per cent . The top positions in 10th standard, FSC and BA are bagged by private educational institutions. In AJK there is a school having 12 students with 8 teachers and the building constructed recently at the cost of 90 lakh rupees.