ISLAMABAD, Sept 30: National Assembly’s standing committee on Kashmir and Northern Areas affairs asked the federal government to extend all possible assistance to the Azad Kashmir (AJK) government for infrastructure development, education, tourism and communications in the region.

The committee, which met under the chairmanship of Pir Mohammad Aslam Bodla, here in the Parliament House on Friday, asked the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas (KANA) to get necessary details from the AJK government and brief the committee about the development works in the area.

The committee decided to recommend the AJK Council to allocate necessary funds for commissioning of an international airport and building of tourism related infrastructure in AJK.

The committee was of the view that AJK had immense tourism potential and it could generate maximum revenue and create employment opportunaties.

Additional secretary KANA gave a detailed briefing to the committee. He said the ministry has a limited role of coordination between the governments of Pakistan and AJK and does not get involved in planning and monitoring process of development schemes of AJK. He said the government of Pakistan provides loans to the AJK government for public sector development programmes.

The meeting was attended by Engineer Gyan Chand Singh, Prof Mushtaq Victor, Israr-ul-Ebad Khan, Nibil Ahmad Gabool, Ms Rukia Khanum Soomro, Maulana Abdul Malik, Ms Rubina Saadat Qaim Khani, Maulana Abdul Halim and Krishin Bheel Advocate.—APP