MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) cabinet on Friday approved payment of monthly subsistence allowance to all those who suffered physical disability due to firing from across the Line of Control (LoC).

The cabinet meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas.

Briefing journalists, PM’s adviser for information Chaudhry Rafique Nayyar and finance minister Abdul Majid Khan said the cabinet had expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and property in recent rain-related incidents and had directed all deputy commissioners to compile cases for the payment of compensation to the victims’ families.

Besides, the cabinet had given its nod to four pieces of law – the Board of Investment Act to promote investment in the state, Power Crushers Act to bring the crushing plants largely blamed for environmental pollution under some regulations, Prevention of Trafficking of Persons Act and Registration Act.

In order to make the process of inductions in government service transparent, the cabinet had constituted a committee under the chief secretary to refine the Third Party Recruitment Act, they said.

They said proposed expenditures for the establishment of Teacher Learning Academy, Elementary and Secondary Boards and upgradation of 300 institutions were also sanctioned.

The finance minister regretted that the federal government was “evading implementation of a written agreement with AJK regarding increase in the emoluments of AJK employees on the pattern of their counterparts in Pakistan.”

He said he had made an announcement to this effect in his budget speech only after holding a meeting with the Pakistani PM’s adviser Qamar Zaman Kaira on this issue and obtaining a written approval from the secretary (Kashmir affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Division).

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2022