GILGIT, April 21: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Qamaruz Zaman Kaira here on Monday asked the Army Monitoring Teams to complete their work within 90 days in the region.

After this period, they would have no role in the area, the minister said while addressing the Northern Areas Legislative Assembly soon after taking oath as chairman of the house.

The minister announced a package for the area on the occasion and said in accordance with the demand of the house, a Public Accounts Committee would start functioning from July 1.

The minister told the house that a committee headed by Secretary Kashmir Affairs had been constituted to work out a mechanism as to how much more powers could be delegated to the assembly and to what extent the administrative as well as financial powers of its speaker could be enhanced.

He also announced that from now onward the Northern Areas Legislative Assembly would prepare budget as is done by other legislative assemblies.

“As far as enhancement of development budget from Rs4 billion to Rs6 billion is concerned, I would take up this matter with the relevant quarters. At the same time, other resources will also be explored,” he assured the house.

Mr Kaira said he was aware of the hardships being faced by the newly-created districts due to shortage of manpower and, “therefore, approve the filling of required vacancies on an emergency basis.”

He said the government would pay full compensation to the affected people of Diamer-Bhasha Dam.

Mr Kaira said he would also take up the boundary dispute of Shandur and Diamer-Bhasha dam with the government of NWFP for amicable resolution.

He said relevant departments had already been directed to start work on establishment of road networks and expansion of the Karakoram Highway.

He said measures would be taken to curb illegal cutting of forests and a public-friendly policy shall be evolved. He said he would personally look after reforestation in the region so that more saplings are planted. He said nature has bestowed the area with huge water resources and the government would harness it to produce maximum energy.

The minister said vocational trainings for unemployed youth was top priority of the government.

Earlier, Speaker Malik Mohammad Miskeen shed light on various phases of the assembly.

Chief executive Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Fida Mohammad Nashad, Hafizur Rehman and Ghulam Mohammad thanked the minister for announcement of the package and hoped that he would do more for empowerment of public representatives of the region.

Earlier, Chief Judge Appellate Court of Northern Areas Qazi Ihsanullah administered the oath to the minister.—APP