ISLAMABAD: The government has prepared a Rs3 billion project for rehabilitation of people affected by shelling from across the Line of Control (LoC).

This was revealed at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday. The meeting also discussed different development projects, tourism and other important issues relating to Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK).

AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider attended the meeting and apprised Mr Khan of different matters of AJK. The meeting was also attended by Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur, Minister for Planning Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda, Minister for Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Sania Nishtar, the AJK chief secretary and other senior officials.

Mr Bakhtiar gave a detailed briefing on development projects in AJK and informed the meeting that a project worth Rs3 billion has been prepared for rehabilitation and welfare of the people whose houses were destroyed in frequent incidents of shelling by Indian forces from across the LoC.

PM-chaired meeting discusses issues in AJK

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Haider praised Mr Khan for raising the Kashmir issue at the international level and taking keen interest in solving problems of the AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan people.

“The AJK government is thankful to PM Khan for highlighting the Kashmir issue at the international level, countering aggression of Indian forces, inclusion of AJK in different development forums, including newly-formed National Development Council, and providing funds for the development of AJK,” he said.

Mr Haider said the new visa regime introduced by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government was boosting tourism in AJK.

The meeting discussed issues related to rehabilitation of people living along the LoC and provision of Health Insaf Card to them, the Neelum-Jhelum project, Mansehra-Muzaf­farabad-Mangla-Mirpur Project, Kohala project, extension of Mangla dam and tourism in AJK.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2019