GILGIT, Jan 8: The Northern Areas Legislative Council (NALC) on Wednesday unanimously demanded the abolition of the army's field monitoring and coordination cell in the region.

The resolution was tabled by NALC member Rehmat Khalique, who contended that the cell had been creating hurdles in the execution of development projects and recruitment.

He said many projects had been suspended because of unnecessary interference of the cell. The army monitoring cells were abolished throughout the country about two years ago.

The speaker assured the council that a proposal had been submitted to the federal government for doing away with the cell. The council reconstituted a committee led by education advisor Hafizur Rahman to prepare a report on the performance of the Northern Areas Transport Corporation. It discarded the previous report on the issue.

On a resolution moved by Syed Jafar Shah, it voted unanimously in favour of the restoration of the regional office of the National Bank here, which had recently been downgraded to zonal office.