• Vows to revive ‘stalled’ development process
• PM Gillani says governance requires a change in attitude, not more money

MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) cabinet on Thursday constituted a three-member committee to review the education package approved by the previous government and recommend changes, if any.

The decision was taken at the first meeting of the newly formed cabinet, presided over by Prime Minister Iftikhar Gillani. The committee comprises Forest Minister Waqar Ahmed Noor, Higher Education Minister Chau­dhry Azhar Sadiq and Eleme­ntary and Secondary Education Minister Sardar Umair Naeem.

Earlier, Education Secretary Qazi Inayat briefed the cabinet on the Education Package 2026 and the teacher recruitment policy. Sardar Adnan Khurshid, secretary to the prime minister who also holds the additional charge of secretary industries and commerce, separately briefed the cabinet on the Ease of Doing Business Act 2026.

Addressing the meeting, PM Gillani said the cabinet was the highest forum of decision-making and its decisions directly affected ordinary citizens.

“We have to create ease for the people so that their confidence can be restored,” he said, stressing the need for the cabinet and bureaucracy to work together. The prime minister directed all departments to amend their rules in accordance with the third-party recruitment law, saying appointments through third-party recruitment would be made strictly on the basis of merit and competence.

He also ordered the establishment of a complaints desk at the Prime Minister’s Office until the proposed complaints portal became operational. “Improving governance requires a change in attitude and approach rather than additional funds,” Mr Gillani said. “We will have to change the attitude towards governance at all costs. Anyone who does not cooperate with us cannot remain part of our team.”

The cabinet welcomed the joint Makkah defence agreement, describing it as an important development for unity and cooperation in the Muslim world, and congratulated the leaderships of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on the agreement.

It also condemned the reported attempt to carry out a drone attack near the sacred precincts of Makkah and expressed solidarity with the Saudi leadership and people. It reiterated its support for the protection of the sanctity and security of the Holy Mosques.

The meeting resolved to resume the development process in AJK, which, according to the resolution, had slowed down after the PML-N government was removed from office in 2021.

On Kashmir, the cabinet expressed concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Indian occupied territory and called for an end to violations of basic human rights and restrictions on civil liberties.

It urged the international community, the United Nations and international human rights organisations to take notice of the situation and play an effective role in protecting the rights of Kashmiri people and seeking a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2026