July 12, 2003	Saturday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 11, 1424

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GILGIT, July 11: The Northern Areas cabinet on Thursday approved the restructuring plan of the Northern Areas Public Works Department (NAPWD) and extended the contracts of ad hoc doctors.

The cabinet, in its meeting presided over by Northern Areas Chief Executive Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, decided that there would be two chief engineers — one for civil and the other for electrical works — of the department under the works secretary.

It gave a six-month contract extension to 20 doctors working on an ad hoc basis and directed the local health department to fill the vacant posts of doctors through the Federal Public Service Commission.

It decided to form a committee to formulate recommendations regarding the rehabilitation of the earthquake victims in Astore.

Mr Sherpao directed the administration to compensate the earthquake victims for their damaged assets from the Annual Development Programme.

The cabinet noted that the committee formed over the curriculum issue had submitted its report, which would be sent with recommendations to the federal curriculum bureau. The bureau was in contact with both the schools of thought, Mr Sherpao said. He directed the local government to build bunkers to provide shelter to the people along the Line of Control. He asked the administration to release the confiscated timber to the rights holders of Chilas forests if they met the legal requirements.

He directed Works Secretary Brig Masroor Abbasi to remove the hurdles in the execution of the Naltar power project and speed up the work.

He approved the transfer of Gilgit SSP Faizan Safdar to Islamabad.

He asked the administration to give lenience to the local people in issuing border passes to China.