AJK has got financial autonomy, says PM Haider

Says federal govt has increased AJK share in taxes from 2.27 to 3.64%

MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan has expressed gratitude to the federal government for a major increase in the AJK share from the federal divisible pool and said that the AJK has got desired financial autonomy.

“We have got financial autonomy and the process to bring administrative and constitutional reforms is underway,” the prime minister said after chairing a cabinet meeting on Monday.

He disclosed that the federal government had increased the AJK share in federal taxes from 2.27 to 3.64 per cent.

“With such reforms and more autonomy, our responsibilities have increased manifold,” he said, adding that the government would have to strictly maintain delicate balance between income and expenditures.

The AJK got its due share because of the keen interest of Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in socio-economic development of the region, he stressed.

Giving credit of reforms to his party’s government, Khan said it was for the first in the AJK history that the development budget was raised to Rs10 billion last year, and now it had further increased up to Rs25 billion.

Haider said several issues including increase of water use charges, state’s share in federal taxes and more administrative and constitutional powers to AJK government had been lingering on for decades. “The credit goes to the PML-N government for resolving these issues amicably and in the best interest of the people of Kashmir,” he added.

The AJK PM said that people would feel a clear difference after the completion of the PML-N government’s term.

The PM and the cabinet appreciated the role of former chief secretary Ejaz Munir and Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Dr Syed Asif Hussain Shah over the settlement of issues with the federal government.

The cabinet also paid tribute to the PM for his consistent and uncompromised struggle for the rights of AJK people.