MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider on Friday asked private sector to share the burden of government in providing quality healthcare services to the people across the state.

Responding to a joint calling attention notice by five woman lawmakers from both sides of the divide, he told the Legislative Assembly that a burn centre had been functioning in private sector in Mirpur and added that the government was contemplating establishing similar centres in public sector in Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot, subject to availability of resources.

Mr Haider also praised the people of Mirpur division for their philanthropy, saying affluent people in that area offered generous donations for projects of public welfare.

He claimed that his government had taken some innovative steps to provide better healthcare facilities to a common man, resource constraints notwithstanding.

In this regard, he said, 60 beds had been added to Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahayan Hospital Muzaffarabad, 40 of which were in its gynaecology ward.

Apart from that, a separate children’s ward had also been established on the premises of the same hospital.

Mr Haider assured the opposition members that government would take measures to implement their suggestions for the good of the society at large.

Earlier, minister for communication and works Chaudhry In response to a question by an opposition lawmaker, Mohammad Aziz informed the house that legislation would be done to arrest damages to the roads caused by overweight vehicles.

He pointed out that government had been spending huge amount on construction of roads, apart from taking measures for their maintenance.

He announced that weigh stations would be established along all major arteries to impel heavy goods vehicles to follow weight limits. In this regard, he declared that the vehicles carrying 15pc access weight would be fined but those carrying more than 15pc would have to unload extra goods.

Resolutions

Meanwhile, many resolutions were also read out by legislators to condemn the terrorist attacks on mosques in New Zealand and praise the island country’s prime minister for her exemplary solidarity with the Muslims.

Ceasefire violations across the Line of Control and state sponsored terrorism and other brutalities unleashed by Indian troops in the occupied territory were also condemned through other resolutions.

Later, the chair adjourned the session till Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2019