MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) cabinet on Thursday increased the amount of compensation for the loss of lives and moveable and immoveable properties during natural calamities across the state.

The cabinet meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider, was told that the victims of natural calamities in AJK were being provided meager compensation under the AJK Disturbed Persons Relief Act, 1985.

However, in July last year, after loss of several lives and property in Lesva village of Neelum valley due to flooding, the affected people had demanded a considerable raise in the amount of compensation for different categories of losses in natural calamities.

Senior Member of Board of Revenue Fayyaz Ali Abbasi briefed the cabinet that since the AJK had limited resources it had been decided to increase the prevailing ratio of compensation by 100 to 150 per cent.

The new ratio was approved by the cabinet.

Prime Minister Haider said that though it was not possible to fully recompense people for their physical and material losses in natural calamities, such as the recent incidents of snow sliding in Neelum valley, the government had made a humble attempt to mitigate sufferings of affected people in such cases.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2020