AJK govt to abolish Special Power Act

PM Haider says transfers will be strictly on merit in view of public interests

MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has decided to abolish the special power act and enforce rules to improve efficiency and discipline in the region.

A decision in this regard was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider on Wednesday.

The meeting also deliberated on the issue of transfers in education and health departments.

It was decided that the special power act would be abolished and in the future, transfers would be made strictly on merit and in view of public needs and interests. Moreover, guidelines were issued to ensure the process is practical.

Haider said that government employees were primarily responsible for facilitating and safeguarding public interests, adding that imparting quality education and providing better health facilities to the public was vital for good governance and of the utmost priority of his government.

Teachers, the premier said, would be employed strictly on merit after clearing test administered by the National Testing Service (NTS). Moreover, the qualification demands for a primary teacher have been brought at par with senior teachers to ensure the provision of quality education in schools, he added.

“We have taken measures to provide quality health facilities to masses and have launched emergency services in hospitals to ensure timely treatment to the patients,” he said.

The prime minister though assured that the government would safeguard the welfare of government employees.

However, he said that government staffers were bound to enforce the government policies and serve people to best of their abilities.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2017.