MUZAFFARABAD, May 21: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Development Working Party here on Tuesday accorded approval to different development projects worth more than Rs410 million.

The DWP meeting was presided over by AJK additional chief secretary (development) Sardar Abdur Rashid Khan and attended, besides the relevant officials, by the AJK Council secretariat’s joint secretary, S M Junaid.

According to a handout, a scheme to set up computer labs in degree colleges for boys and girls at all the seven district headquarters in Azad Kashmir was approved at a cost of Rs39 million. Another scheme, costing Rs 39.182m, was approved for purchase of land, construction of buildings and provision of necessary lab equipment etc for three girls’ colleges in district Muzaffarabad.

The DWP also approved a project to repair and improve roads in different AJK district at a cost of Rs92.683m. Five projects in housing and physical planning sector, worth Rs141.622m were approved. These included greater water supply scheme in Islamgadh (Mirpur) worth Rs32.103m, Hajira greater water supply scheme in district Poonch worth Rs63.77m.

The handout said that these projects were designed keeping in view the requirements of next 25 years. The DWP also approved a scheme for renovation of building and provision of equipment in the Staff Training Institute Muzaffarabad worth Rs2.782m. A drainage project costing Rs40.344m was approved for Prime Minister’s hometown Kotli.

Establishment of a library in Thorar (district Poonch) was approved at a cost of Rs2.623m.

The DWP also approved a scheme for completion of the buildings of the basic health units in Azad Kashmir, costing Rs5.885m. It further approved a land management scheme for Khadi Sharif (Mirpur) at a cost of Rs35.708m, installation of tube wells in Iftikharabad (Bhimbher) at Rs12.008m and water resources development schemes in the districts of Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Poonch and Sudhnoti at Rs38.192m.