NFC Award: AJK may get Rs9b hike in development budget

Nawaz to visit soon, says Chaudhry Tariq

MIRPUR: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is likely to see a Rs9 billion hike in its Annual Development Budget (ADB) following the fresh allocation of resources in the upcoming National Finance Commission award.

Acting AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Tariq Farooq on Wednesday said that AJK would get Rs21 billion as its ADB instead of the expected Rs12 billion.

“The budget will be enhanced following the implementation of the National Finance Commission (NFC) award,” he said, addressing a press conference late on Tuesday.

It would benefit AJK and make the liberated territory a true model welfare state and bring it at par with developed parts of Pakistan, said.

Farooq said PM Nawaz Sharif would visit Mirpur next month and would announce mega development package for AJK.

Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor he said it would equally benefit AJK. Bhimber will get one of the eight mega industrial zones being set up under the CPEC project, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2017.