October 24, 2002	Thursday	Sha’aban 17,1423

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GILGIT, Oct 23: The federal government on Wednesday delegated some powers to the elected representatives of Northern Areas and reshuffled the portfolios of the Northern Areas cabinet, a source told Dawn.

According to a new power sharing formula the Northern Areas affairs have now been delinked from the Kashmir affairs division, providing substantial relief to the elected members as well as to the people with regard to decisions in financial, administartive and development matters. Now all the matters would be decided at local level.

Earlier the elected members and individuals had to approach the Kana division at Islamabad even for a pity issue.

Except prisons, law and home the chief executive has delegated other powers to the NALC advisors.

The decison in this behalf was taken at a cabinet meeting here on Wednesday which was presided over by the federal information minister and chief executive of Northern Areas, Nisar A. Memon.

The deputy chief executive, Fida Mohammad Nashad, has been empowered to make transfers below grade 18 and has been given the portfolio of works department beside services and general administration.

According to the decision Imran Nadeem has been given tourism, industries and health; Saifur Rahman Khan, education, finance and revenue; Sheikh Ghulam Haider, agriculture, fisheries and food; Engineer M. Ismail Khan, local bodies, rural development and Natco; Janbaz Khan, forest, wildlife and Zakat. The Deputy Chief Executive, Fida Mohammad Nashad has been given the portfolio of services and general administration.

The Northern Areas’ chief secretarys’ power has been enhanced at par with provincial chief secretaries.

The source also said that President Gen Pervez Musharraf will make an announcement about the constitutional status of Northern Areas during his visit to the region in the first week of November.

Earlier speaking at the opening ceremony of Thalichi Bridge in Diamar District the CE who is also information minister, said maximum powers would be delegated to the elected members of the Northern Areas by ensuring their full participation in the policy-making and decision-making of the region.

He said that this strategic bridge that directly links over 100,000 people of Astore valley to the Karakoram Highway (KKH) will be a milestone in smooth transportation of logistics and other goods.

The 871-feet long reinforced cement concrete (RCC) bridge was built in three years on Indus River at a cost of Rs80.62m. The two-lane traffic facility also provides link to Baltistan via Deosai Plateau.

Besides the members of Northern Areas cabinet and local councilors, federal food and agriculture minister Khair Muhammad Junejo and chairman of the Board of Investment was also present on the occasion.

Mr Memon will open a 2-day conference on tourism and investment on Thursday at a local hotel, organized by the planning and development department of Northern Areas.