MUZAFFARABAD, March 24: Cabinet development committee of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Monday accorded approval to 19 development schemes in various sectors at an estimated cost of Rs1878.12 million.

The meeting was presided over by AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan and attended by ministers, chief secretary, secretaries and heads of the departments.

According to a handout, one scheme was sanctioned for the police department, three were sanctioned in education sector, eight in communication sector, five in health sector, and one each in physical planning and housing and local government and rural development sectors.

Speaking on the occasion, the AJK premier stressed upon the officials to ensure during the initial stages of any scheme that its benefits should reach the maximum portion of population of that area. The schemes should be completed in time, without any compromise on quality, he added.