Refugees’ woes: AJK govt implementing Rs1.1 billion resettlement plan in phases

Denies any kind of discrimination towards refugees.

MIRPUR:

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government is implementing a plan for the rehabilitation of refugees in phases that will cost Rs1.1 billion, claimed an official associated with the plan.

He denied categorically any sort of discrimination against Kashmiri refugees who crossed over the Line of Control from Indian side in 1947.

When contacted, a senior official from the department of resettlement and rehabilitation, who declined to be identified, said that the deputy commissioner rehabilitation is assigned to issue state subject certificates to refugees.

He visits various cities every month for this purpose. The state subject certificate is a basic requirement for refugees to apply for a job in government departments or for admission in higher educational institutes against their quota.

Refugees will get possession of land allocated in Kashmir Colonies in Gujranwala, Peshawar, Sialkot, Jhelum, Gujrat, Jalalpur Jattan, Mansehra and Abbotabad by the end of this year.

A senior official from the building division of the Public Works Department, who oversees the execution and maintenance of construction works in Kashmir colonies, said the first phase of the plan had already been implemented under which 14 colonies have been established across Pakistan at a cost of Rs40 million.

At least 3,600 residential plots have been allocated to homeless refugees who migrated to Pakistan after 1947.

The provision of basic amenities to the colonies is the responsibility of the rehabilitation department, he added.

According to an official source, since the development work comprising link roads and sanitary lines in the colonies is under progress, it has been decided to complete it in the shortest possible time.

Once civic amenities including water, sewerage and electricity have been provided, refugees will be advised to construct their houses within the stipulated time to be determined by the AJK government, said the source.

Roads, schools, dispensaries and commercial centres have been planned and in some cases are under construction.

Once the development work has been completed, refugees will be given possession of their plots.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2012.