October 19, 2007	Friday	Shawwal 6, 1428

MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 18: The Azad Kashmir Development Working Party (DWP) on Thursday approved Rs657.928 million for different development projects in physical planning and housing, health, social welfare, forests, wildlife and agriculture sectors.

The DWP’s meeting was presided over by AJK Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan and attended by cabinet members, secretaries and heads of various departments.

According to an official handout, Rs199.964 million had been sanctioned to the physical planning and housing sector for establishing refugee colonies for the Kashmiris in 12 cities of Pakistan, including Peshawar, Karachi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Jalalpur Jattan, Sialkot, Mansehra, Haripur and Abbottabad.

The meeting decided to appoint project directors for timely completion of the colonies.

The prime minister asked public works and rehabilitation departments to ensure that the colonies were completed on a priority basis.

He was informed that 70 per cent development work on the project had been completed.

The meeting approved Rs158.762 million for a 200-bed tehsil headquarters hospital in Dadyal, Mirpur district.

An amount of Rs53.529 million had been sanctioned for a social welfare department-sponsored project under which 21 centres would be set up for women. Unemployed women will be imparted training in embroidery and tailoring in the centres.

The DWP approved Rs156.91 million for a Neelum valley based project to create awareness among the locals about conservation of biodiversity. Under the project, people will be provided CGI sheets and LPG cylinders to reduce their dependency on precious timber which they are using for construction purposes and as fuel wood. Prepared in cooperation with an international non-governmental organisation, the project will also help protect wildlife and flourish medicinal plants in the targeted areas.

The prime minister asked the authorities concerned to prepare similar projects for other areas of AJK.

An amount of Rs88.763 million was approved for the establishment of a fruit, vegetable and meat market in Arja of Bagh district.

Sardar Attique stressed the need for an effective monitoring system to ensure timely completion of the projects.

He sought reports on under-construction projects from the departments concerned and said the pace of work should be expedited.

The prime minister asked the participants to prepare monthly progress reports of their departments and submit detailed information while seeking approval for the plans.