GILGIT, Jan 29: Judiciary in the Northern Areas will be given more independence in the light of Supreme Court’s decisions and the school curriculum issue will be decided with consensus.

This was stated by the minister for water and power and Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas (Kana) chief executive, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, while talking to delegations.

Mr Sherpao said that the development of the Northern Areas was among the top priorities of the present government.

“Completion of Sust dry port will prove a milestone for the development of the area,” said the minister, while talking to a delegation of the Northern Areas Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NACCI), led by its president Shehbaz Khan.

The NACCI team appraised the Kana chief executive of the problems faced by the traders.

Mr Sherpao said that the government was planning to establish an export processing zone in the Northern Areas, which would provide job opportunities and help alleviate poverty.

A Northern Areas Bar Council delegation, led by vice-chairman Altaf Hussain, appraised him of the lawyers’ problems.

Mr Sherpao assured the delegation that vacant posts of the sessions and additional sessions judges would be filled according to merit. The delegation demanded barrooms in district headquarters and additional grant.

“Curriculum in the schools of Northern Areas will be decided with consensus,” said Mr Sherpao, while talking to delegation of the Anjuman-i-Imamia. He said that the issue was already discussed in NA Cabinet and gave assurance that the problem would be solved amicably.