ISLAMABAD Oct 9: The government has declined to accept offers of $600 million because of unfavourable terms and conditions out of the total $6.7 billion pledged by the international donors for earthquake relief, reducing the pledged money to $5.9 billion.
This was stated by the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz while presiding over the 39th meeting of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council at the Prime Minister’s House here on Monday.
The meeting also approved Rs3.57 billion council budgets for 2006-2007, reflecting a 20 per cent increase over the outgoing fiscal year.
He said that total estimates for reconstruction had increased from the initial assessments adding that funds will be arranged as and when required.
The council decided to set up a board or revenue in the state and also to amend the AJK Ehtesab Act extending the Ehtesab Bureau’s jurisdiction to 1985.
The prime minister said that of the total $6.7 billion pledged by international donors, $2.7 billion was as grants of which $ 1.7 billion had already been spent by donors themselves mostly in relief and rescue phase and the remaining $1 billion would be spent in rehabilitation and rebuilding phase.
The remaining amount of $4 billion was loan, of which $2 billion had been negotiated and $1.4 billion was being negotiated while $600 million had been declined because of unfavourable terms and conditions.
The council also approved Rs900 million for additional developmental projects to be recommended by the AJK Legislative Assembly and AJK Council members during the year.
To project the cause of Kashmir, the council decided to hold an international conference in Islamabad in February-March 2007 to address various aspects of the problem and to propose mechanism for its solution.
Briefing newsmen, federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Maj (retd) Tahir said that a block amount of Rs150 has also been set aside to meet the expenses to be incurred on special development projects that the council or its any member proposes during the course of the year.
He was aaccomapnied by AJK President Raja Zulqarnain Khan and AJK Prime Minister Attique Ahmed Khan
He said that the status of the adviser to the AJK Council had been raised to other advisers to the AJK government, bringing their perks and privileges at par.
Addressing the AJK Council, Prime Minister Aziz said Kashmir was a major issue of South Asia and sustainable peace in the region was possible only after its resolution in line with the wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir. He reiterated the government’s commitment to the process of composite dialogue with India to resolve all outstanding issues.
The council meeting was attended by AJK president and prime minister, federal ministers for Kashmir affairs, railways, foreign affairs and council members.
