MUZAFFARABAD: The deadlock between the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government and local government (LG) representatives over the distribution of development funds and related issues ended on Friday following successful negotiations.

AJK Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (LG&RD), Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, and Chairman District Council Poonch, Sardar Javed Sharif, announced the breakthrough after concluding talks at Kashmir House in Islamabad. “All matters concerning LG representatives have been resolved,” Mr Rathore declared.

He noted that after one and a half years of deliberations, an agreement had initially been reached on March 18, but delays ensued. “Today, we held another session to thoroughly review and finalize all outstanding issues, including the distribution of funds,” he added.

Mr Sharif also confirmed the successful outcome of the talks, stating that all matters had been settled in principle. However, a formal announcement would be made on April 8 after the details were presented in a meeting of the LG representatives’ coordination committee, he said.

He expressed gratitude to the AJK government for addressing their concerns and acknowledged the unwavering support of fellow LG representatives throughout the negotiations.

Besides Mr Rathore, the government’s negotiation team included cabinet ministers Waqar Ahmed Noor and Chaudhry Qasim Majeed. The LG representatives’ team comprised Mr. Sharif, Chairman District Council Muzaffarabad Sardar Imtiaz Abbasi, Mayor Muzaffarabad Syed Sikandar Gilani, as well as Sardar Iftikhar, Raja Hassam Jahangir, Sardar Babar Razzaq, Sardar Shahid Mehmood, and others.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2025