AJK approves projects worth Rs1.31 billion

PM says billions of rupees allocated for development of infrastructure

MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Kashmir government on Thursday approved three projects of roads worth Rs1.31 billion.

The approval was granted in the meeting of Central Development Working Committee (CDWC), which was chaired by Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan for the financial year 2018-19 held on Wednesday.

The meeting was also attended by the members of AJK Cabinet, chief secretary, additional chief secretary (Development), secretary finance, secretary of respective line department and officers of the Planning and Development.

The significant projects that were brought under discussion included Improvement, Metaling and Black Topping of Link Roads in District Kotli and Mirpur (Length 70 Km) and Construction and Metalling of Reshain-Moji Road (length 10 km) via Shergali in District Jhelum Valley.

Earlier, the approving forum of the AKDWP under the chairmanship of the Additional Chief Secretary (Development) conducted its second meeting for the financial year 2018-19. The representatives of the Federal government, secretaries of the respective line departments and officers of the P&DD, GoAJ&K attended the meeting.

In the meeting, eight projects costing over Rs1.49 billion relating to Power, Health and Forestry/Watershed, Agriculture/Irrigation, Wildlife/Fisheries Sectors were considered and approved.

The significant projects that were  approved included outstanding liabilities against 30.4 MW Jagran-I Hydro Power Project, Provision of X-Rays and Ultra Sound Machines in Secondary Care Hospitals in AJK, Provision of Life Saving Services in Major Hospitals of AJK including Emergency and Dialysis Medicines and Consumables for RBTC at District Muzaffarabad, Integrated Community Based Watershed Management in the circles of three Divisions of the state of AJK, Rehabilitation of Leftover Targets of National Program for Improvement of Water Courses in AJK, Commercial Fish Production on Public Private Partnership in AJK and Captive Breeding of sports species in District Mirpur.

While addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan directed the forum to expedite the pace of work. He said that the government has allocated billions of rupees for the development of infrastructure.

He agreed with the proposal of minister for Works to allocate the funds for the maintenance of roads and asked the concerned department to submit a detailed report suggesting for allocation of budget for purchase machinery and maintenance separately.