MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Iftikhar Gillani on Monday said his government’s priorities were improving governance, providing relief to people and ensuring balanced development in the state, while attributing the lack of continuity in development efforts partly to political instability.

Talking to the media during his visit to Bhimber, he said four prime ministers had changed in the last five years, affecting continuity in governance and preventing sustained attention to public issues.

“As a result, the continuity of the government was affected and the req­uired attention could not be given to resolving public issues,” Mr Gillani added.

While acknowledging the media’s role in highlighting public problems and conveying people’s concerns to the government, he assured that concrete steps would be taken to address the legitimate concerns and welfare issues of journalists.

Gillani says four premiers changed in five years, affecting continuity and governance

He arrived in Bhimber on the invitation of Legi­slative Assembly Spe­aker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq.

The premier told the media that his government had prepared a roadmap to address public grievances, improve institutional performance and ensure transparent and effective governance.

‘Grassroots level’

He said efforts would be made to ensure that the benefits of good governance and development reached people at the grassroots level.

Mr Gillani said the government would pursue uniform and balanced development in all areas of the state, adding that public service, institutional improvement and continuity in the development process were the main focuses of his administration.

At a meeting with Mr Farooq, he reviewed the performance of departments dealing with education, health, electricity and roads. He directed officials to ensure that government offices remained accessible to the public, visitors were treated courteously and their problems were addressed without unnecessary delays or hurdles.

Mr Gillani also directed the authorities to ensure timely completion of development projects.

The prime minister also inspected the under-construction Daanish School in Bhimber and described the establishment of five such schools in AJK as an important step towards providing better educational opportunities.

He planted a sapling on the school premises. Officials briefed him that 86 per cent of the construction work on the institution had been completed and teaching would begin by February next year.

Mr Gillani expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for establishing five Daanish Schools in AJK and said the institutions would provide children from middle-class families with a modern educational environment and better learning opportunities.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2026