Prime Minister Haider says cuts in AJK Budget inappropriate

By Tariq Naqash
MUZAFFARABAD, June 14: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Monday expressed serious concern over alleged reduction by the central government in the budget of his administered region, saying the action was inappropriate.
“While the central and provincial budgets have seen increase, our budget has been slashed… Such a treatment with the jugular vein of Quaid-e-Azam’s Pakistan is incongruous,” he said at a public meeting in the town of Thorar in district Poonch.
The function was held to mark the elevation of Thorar as sub-division and was also addressed by two AJK ministers.
Mr Haider recalled that when MC veteran Sardar Abdul Qayyum ruled AJK in (1991-96), the government in Islamabad was led by Benazir Bhutto and when Peoples Party’s Barrister Sultan Mahmood was AJK’s chief executive (1996-2001), Mian Nawaz Sharif was governing Pakistan but none of the two leaders had trimmed down AJK’s budget.
“No doubt Pakistan’s economic condition is not commendable but it’s strange that only AJK’s budget has been slashed whereas the grants for the provinces have been raised,” he said.
Reminding President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani of their “commitments” during their visits to AJK, Mr Haider expressed the hope that the central government would review its decision to impose cuts on AJK’s budget in view of its repercussions for the region.
The AJK premier said his government had demanded Rs 14 billion for next year’s annual development programme (ADP) but the central government had pledged only Rs 4 billion.
On the non-developmental side, he said the AJK government needed 4.66 billion to give 50 percent salary raise to state employees whereas another 980 million were required for a raise in the salaries of police personnel.
“How the AJK government can meet these expenditures in the present situation,” he questioned.
Regarding the reconstruction programme, Mr Haider said Rs 27 billion were required to complete the ongoing projects but only Rs 5 billion had been earmarked. Similarly, he added, only Rs 3 billion out of required Rs 8 billion had been allocated for the rehabilitation of Mangla Dam affectees.
Pakistan was suffering a loss of up to Rs 16 billion per annum only because the problems of Mangla Dam affectees were not being addressed, he said, asking Islamabad not to overlook projects that were vital for its economy, regardless of their location.
The AJK premier maintained that the people of Mirpur had twice rendered sacrifices to keep the towns lighted and factories working in Pakistan and in return their issues should also be addressed on priority.
He vowed that Muslim Conference would not compromise on or surrender the rights of people.
“We are Pakistanis by conviction and do not need any certificate from anybody in this regard.”
He rejected opposition’s assertion that no cut was imposed on AJK’s budget and accused it of compromising the self-respect of the AJK resident merely for the sake of power.
Ends