ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee asked the ministry of Kashmir affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan on Wednesday to curtail its administrative expenditures so that funds could be diverted to development schemes, particularly the medical colleges’ projects in AJK.

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and GB discussed various issues relating to the ministry and budgetary proposals for the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the financial year 2015-16. Malik Ibrar Ahmad presided over the meeting.

The secretary of Kashmir affairs and GB told the meeting that apart from the medical colleges, construction of Rothoa Haryam bridge on the reservoir channel on Mirpur-Islamgarh Road, Athmuqam-Keran and Noseri-Leswa bypass roads, setting up of the regional grid Baltistan and five hydro-power projects had been planned in the next budget.

The committee unanimously approved the budgetary proposals.

Members recommended that ongoing projects should be prioritised for the PSDP. The meeting was of the view that the AJK-origin community abroad should be mobilised for funds-raising, at least for the construction of medical colleges was concerned.

Those who attended the meeting included MNAs Tahir Iqbal, Khalil George, Chaudhry Abid Raza, Nasir Iqbal Bosal, Syed Waseem Hussain and Molvi Agha Muhammad.

Published in Dawn February 26th , 2015

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