Overlooking the serious financial crunch that has hit the entire country, the AJK finance department has given concurrence to the provision of an official vehicle, house rent and a certain amount of fuel to the region’s former presidents on the pattern of former prime ministers.
In line with the approval, the law department has been tasked to propose requisite amendments to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir ex-Presidents (Salary, Allowances, Privileges) Act, 1975 to pave way for provision of these facilities to the prospective beneficiaries.
The former AJK presidents, it may be recalled, are entitled to Rs 30,000 as monthly pension , Rs 5000 for monthly telephone expenses and services of a driver-cum gunman from the AJK police and a stenographer and orderly from the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD).
For long, the AJK presidents also used to avail themselves of a privilege of importing one duty free car during their term like that of the provincial governors but that privilege was withdrawn by the then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif under his reforms shortly after the nuke tests in 1998.
However, in September 2004, the then AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat shrewdly inserted two amendments in the AJK Ministers (Salaries, Allowances, Privileges) Act 1975 whereby, for the first time, the former prime ministers in AJK were also entitled to some benefits from the taxpayers money, regardless of the length of their tenure. These benefits included one official car, official accommodation or Rs 25000 per month as rent, 400 litres of petrol (or its cost) per month and a driver-cum-gunman.
Instantly, former premiers Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan (1991 -1996) and Barrister Sultan Mahmood (1996-2001) became the beneficiaries of this amendment. Mr Hayat was provided these privileges after his second term in the coveted office expired in July 2006.
Mr Qayyum and Mr Hayat also claim pensions of a former president.
However, the ‘benevolent law’ about the former premiers did not go well with the then AJK President Maj-Gen (retired) Sardar Anwar Khan who felt he had been left out in the cold.
Perhaps, it was why he withheld a 2005 model Toyota Corolla Saloon car of president’s secretariat, in sheer violation of law, at the end of his 5-year term in August 2006.
All these years, sources said, Mr Anwar Khan had been desperately arguing before the concerned quarters that if a former prime minister could be provided an official car why a former president couldn’t enjoy the same privilege.
As the sitting Legislative Assembly has seen three prime ministers – Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, Sardar Yaqoob Khan and Raja Farooq Haider - in four elections, the S&GAD has provided same privileges to them as well.
In all, sources said, five former primers were currently enjoying the facility of an official vehicle, a driver cum gunman, Rs 25000 and 400 litres of petrol (or cost) per month. The incumbent premier was likely to rejoin this elite group whenever he vacates this office.
Last year, sources said, the incumbent President Raja Zulqarnain Khan had twice written to the law department to initiate requisite legislation for provision of same facilities to a former head of the state as well, apart from pension etc.
“We were under a constant pressure to give financial concurrence to provision of these facilities,” said a finance department official.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, however added that his department had put a condition that these privileges would be provided in only one capacity if even someone had held both the offices.
When asked if any action would be taken against Sardar Anwar Khan for unauthorized retention of an official vehicle for five years, he said it was something to be dealt by the Ehtesab Bureau.
Ends
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
AJK Law Minister trampling rules for induction of son
MUZAFFARABAD, Jan 22: An influential member of the AJK cabinet is consistently using his clout to get his son appointed as a gazetted officer in sheer disregard to relevant rules and reservations by the concerned officials.
Documents made available to this correspondent and background interviews revealed that Sardar Sayab Khalid, minister for law, justice and parliamentary affairs, had been twisting he arms of electricity secretariat officials since long for the appointment of his son, Shehzad Khalid, as assistant engineer in BPS-17.
Succumbing to the pressure, the secretariat issued a ‘notification’ on December 11, appointing his son as sub-divisional officer (SDO) in Rawalakot.
However, neither did the notification mention basis of the appointment (ad-hoc or contractual) nor did it say anything about the fate of the incumbent SDO, Muhammad Imtiaz.
The ‘notification’ after being challenged by Mr Imtiaz was suspended by the Service Tribunal on December 20. However, before the tribunal could pass a final judgment, the law minister, in the meanwhile, managed issuance of a fresh notification from the electricity secretariat on January 15, whereby Mr Shehzad was ‘appointed’ as SDO Thorar in place of one Fazle Rabbi, who was transferred to Bagh.
Electricity department’s chief engineer (CE) Mushtaq Gaursi admitted before this correspondent that the appointment orders were flawed but said his office had never moved any such proposals.
According to witnesses and sources, the law minister had been personally visiting the chambers of the officials concerned and pressing them to issue the notifications about his son’s induction as per his will.
Credentials of Mr Shehzad revealed that he had studied BE (electrical) in University College of Engineering and Technology (UCET) Mirpur after securing less than 46 per cent marks in the FSc in 1995.
His session in the UCET ended in 1999 but he earned his degree in 2004 after appearing in supplementary exams between 2003 and 2004 and that too after being granted ‘special chances’ by the varsity.
In June 2002, when his qualification was simply FSc, he was appointed on temporary basis as sub-engineer (BPS-11) in the electricity department for six months. He had falsely claimed that he had appeared in the final exam of BE (Electrical) and was waiting for his result. As he could not provide his degree after six months, the temporary appointment as sub engineer was never renewed but he continued the job, exercising the powers of SDO, until the AJK Ehtesab Bureau took stock of it in May 2004. Mr Shehzad had also obtained a pre-arrest bail from the AJK High Court on May 26, 2004, to preempt any action by the bureau.
His father happened to be the Legislative Assembly speaker in those days.
Interestingly, the formal endorsement of that temporary service without formal orders was sought by Mr Shehzad in May 2010 after almost six years.
In May 2005, Mr Shehzad was appointed as ad-hoc assistant engineer (BPS-17) in the electricity department against the quota of Kashmiri refugees but when his service was terminated in June 2006 by CE he got interim relief from the apex court.
In June 2007, he was appointed on contractual basis in a foreign funded project where he continued till August last year. At the close of project he submitted a ‘joining report’ in the CE’s office which was rejected on the grounds that he was never a permanent employee of the department.
However, notwithstanding the CE’s stance, the law minister kept on pressuring that his son be regularized and promoted as ‘assistant engineer’ on the basis of his service as sub-engineer for “three years.”
Sources pointed out that Mr Shehzad had mentioned fake dates in his applications about his previous jobs, either on temporary or on ad-hoc basis, in a bid to prove there was no gap in his service.
The law minister had also got issued a favourable “legal opinion” for his son from the law secretariat. A source in the law secretariat confided to this correspondent that the opinion was formed “on the basis of the available record” and that they could hardly go against the interests of their minister.
Sources also disclosed that Mr Khalid had also threatened former Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider against resignation from the cabinet if his son was not inducted. However, his efforts remained unsuccessful mainly due to strong resistance by the then secretary electricity Akram Sohail.
When quizzed about the case, the electricity minister Mirza Shafique Jaral tried to bail himself out by saying he had always passed directions that the case should be processed according to the rules.
When the law minister was asked as to how his son could be inducted as SDO without fulfillment of criteria, he claimed that the case had been properly processed.
However, as more questions were put to him in the light of the documents available with Dawn, the minister lost his cool.
“Don’t write anything on my behalf. You can write whatever you want,” he said and hung up the phone.
It may be recalled that Mr Khalid has often been accused of favourtism while holding official positions. In September 2004, he had also got his son, nephew and brother-in-law appointed in the Legislative Assembly secretariat as gazetted officers through a departmental selection committee which he headed as speaker.
ends
Documents made available to this correspondent and background interviews revealed that Sardar Sayab Khalid, minister for law, justice and parliamentary affairs, had been twisting he arms of electricity secretariat officials since long for the appointment of his son, Shehzad Khalid, as assistant engineer in BPS-17.
Succumbing to the pressure, the secretariat issued a ‘notification’ on December 11, appointing his son as sub-divisional officer (SDO) in Rawalakot.
However, neither did the notification mention basis of the appointment (ad-hoc or contractual) nor did it say anything about the fate of the incumbent SDO, Muhammad Imtiaz.
The ‘notification’ after being challenged by Mr Imtiaz was suspended by the Service Tribunal on December 20. However, before the tribunal could pass a final judgment, the law minister, in the meanwhile, managed issuance of a fresh notification from the electricity secretariat on January 15, whereby Mr Shehzad was ‘appointed’ as SDO Thorar in place of one Fazle Rabbi, who was transferred to Bagh.
Electricity department’s chief engineer (CE) Mushtaq Gaursi admitted before this correspondent that the appointment orders were flawed but said his office had never moved any such proposals.
According to witnesses and sources, the law minister had been personally visiting the chambers of the officials concerned and pressing them to issue the notifications about his son’s induction as per his will.
Credentials of Mr Shehzad revealed that he had studied BE (electrical) in University College of Engineering and Technology (UCET) Mirpur after securing less than 46 per cent marks in the FSc in 1995.
His session in the UCET ended in 1999 but he earned his degree in 2004 after appearing in supplementary exams between 2003 and 2004 and that too after being granted ‘special chances’ by the varsity.
In June 2002, when his qualification was simply FSc, he was appointed on temporary basis as sub-engineer (BPS-11) in the electricity department for six months. He had falsely claimed that he had appeared in the final exam of BE (Electrical) and was waiting for his result. As he could not provide his degree after six months, the temporary appointment as sub engineer was never renewed but he continued the job, exercising the powers of SDO, until the AJK Ehtesab Bureau took stock of it in May 2004. Mr Shehzad had also obtained a pre-arrest bail from the AJK High Court on May 26, 2004, to preempt any action by the bureau.
His father happened to be the Legislative Assembly speaker in those days.
Interestingly, the formal endorsement of that temporary service without formal orders was sought by Mr Shehzad in May 2010 after almost six years.
In May 2005, Mr Shehzad was appointed as ad-hoc assistant engineer (BPS-17) in the electricity department against the quota of Kashmiri refugees but when his service was terminated in June 2006 by CE he got interim relief from the apex court.
In June 2007, he was appointed on contractual basis in a foreign funded project where he continued till August last year. At the close of project he submitted a ‘joining report’ in the CE’s office which was rejected on the grounds that he was never a permanent employee of the department.
However, notwithstanding the CE’s stance, the law minister kept on pressuring that his son be regularized and promoted as ‘assistant engineer’ on the basis of his service as sub-engineer for “three years.”
Sources pointed out that Mr Shehzad had mentioned fake dates in his applications about his previous jobs, either on temporary or on ad-hoc basis, in a bid to prove there was no gap in his service.
The law minister had also got issued a favourable “legal opinion” for his son from the law secretariat. A source in the law secretariat confided to this correspondent that the opinion was formed “on the basis of the available record” and that they could hardly go against the interests of their minister.
Sources also disclosed that Mr Khalid had also threatened former Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider against resignation from the cabinet if his son was not inducted. However, his efforts remained unsuccessful mainly due to strong resistance by the then secretary electricity Akram Sohail.
When quizzed about the case, the electricity minister Mirza Shafique Jaral tried to bail himself out by saying he had always passed directions that the case should be processed according to the rules.
When the law minister was asked as to how his son could be inducted as SDO without fulfillment of criteria, he claimed that the case had been properly processed.
However, as more questions were put to him in the light of the documents available with Dawn, the minister lost his cool.
“Don’t write anything on my behalf. You can write whatever you want,” he said and hung up the phone.
It may be recalled that Mr Khalid has often been accused of favourtism while holding official positions. In September 2004, he had also got his son, nephew and brother-in-law appointed in the Legislative Assembly secretariat as gazetted officers through a departmental selection committee which he headed as speaker.
ends
Friday, June 25, 2010
AJK capital stinks as civic workers go on strike
I wonder why the district administration and government are taking this issue lightly.....Qabza groups appeear to have been more powerful than the official agencies. But obviously they cannot breach law unless some people from the official machinery are backing them up.
------------
By Tariq Naqash
MUZAFFARABAD, June 25: Officials and employees of Municipal Corporation Muzaffarabad (MCM) observed strike on the second consecutive day here on Friday to protest and condemn the alleged attack at their garbage laden vehicles and misbehaviour by an administration official with their chief officer.
The striking employees staged a demonstration outside their under-construction office in Upper Adda during which they kept on chanting vociferous slogans against the administration for “failing to provide them protection.”
Garbage had piled up in almost all neighbourhoods due to the strike and residents feared that the city would be stinking by the next working day (on Monday).
According to Shaikh Tahir Wasim, president Local Council Employees’ Association, two garbage laden vehicles were fired upon and pelted with stones by a group of miscreants near the civic body’s landfill site in Zaminabad village along Muzaffarabad-Kohala Road on Wednesday afternoon.
Not only the vehicles got damaged by firing and stone pelting but a driver, Basharat Gillani, also received injuries, creating deep sense of insecurity among the entire staff, he added.
Mr Wasim recalled that it was second such incident at the same place since June 10 at the hands of unscrupulous people who wanted to grab the 35 kanals of land, purchased and developed by the MCM for garbage dumping.
A fresh FIR was lodged against 10 accused persons but the police were yet to arrest the main culprits, he said.
On Thursday some notables from Zaminabad area approached the district administration following which negotiations between them and corporation officials were held in the office of deputy commissioner Muzaffarabad to find a solution to the problem.
According to Mr Wasim, the Zaminabad residents agreed at the meeting to get the damaged vehicles repaired besides ensuring that such incidents did not recur in future.
However, when corporation’s chief officer Abdul Hameed Shaheen said he could not call off the strike without taking the employees’ association into confidence he was roughly treated by assistant commissioner Abdul Hamid Kiany, which added fuel to the flames of striking employees’ rage and resentment.
The striking employees also met their concerned minister, Raja Naseer Ahmed, and asked him to redress the balance.
Mr Wasim said though the minister had directed the divisional commissioner to submit him a report, the employees could hardly resume work amid threats to their lives.
“Unless the government takes concrete steps to provide security to garbage dumping workers and also transfers the uncouth assistant commissioner we will not end our strike,” he declared.
Ends
civil society warns against long march to protest delay in reconstruction
Reconstruction of Muzaffarabad has been a very sensitive issue for the residents of Muzaffarabad ever since the same had been pledged to them by the authorities concerned. But while the luxuries of these authorities go on unabated, the real task seems nowhere in their priorities. We all are mourning the indifference.
-------------------------
By Tariq Naqash
MUZAFFARABAD, June 24: Hundreds of people from different walks of life staged a demonstration here on Thursday to raise voice against the “unjustified delay” in reconstruction of the earthquake affected urban areas, mainly the AJK capital.
They also warned against staging a long march on to the Parliament building as well the headquarters of Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) in Islamabad if their 50-point ‘charter of demands’ was not implemented within one month.
The demonstration was held on the call of a civil society forum - Tehreek-e-Tameer-e-Nau of Movement for Reconstruction (TTN) – along the bustling thoroughfare in Chattar which houses almost all important official buildings, including that of Legislative Assembly which was in session at that time.
Led by Zahid Amin and Shaukat Javed Mir, convenor and secretary general, respectively, of TTN, the demonstrators were holding placards inscribed with their demands as well as disapproval of alleged delay in reconstruction. They were also chanting similar slogans.
Legislators from the constituents of combined opposition, Chaudhry Latif Akbar of PPAJK, Chaudhry Mohammad Rasheed of Peoples Muslim League, Abdul Majid Khan of Friends Group and Mohammad Salim Butt of MQM, also visited the venue demonstration and expressed support and solidarity with them.
They assured them that they would raise the issues of citizens in the house and play their role for their settlement.
The opposition lawmakers accused the present government of having failed to deliver on all counts, including the reconstruction.
Other speakers said that almost five years had elapsed since the devastating October 2005 earthquake but reconstruction related projects had not been initiated in the affected areas, including the state capital.
Tens of hundreds of people, they pointed out, were still living in temporary accommodations as neither the much hyped satellite towns had been developed nor the landless families had been provided with alternate land.
They alleged that the funds meant for reconstruction were being diverted by the concerned authorities somewhere else and whatever was left was being spent on non-productive activities and luxuries.
On its part the AJK government was also brazenly ignoring the reports of international experts regarding strict implementation of building codes and construction in the hazardous areas, notwithstanding the threats it was posing to lives of people.
They said that the earthquake survivors had been constantly offering sacrifices and they would not compromise on the issue of reconstruction.
Ends
-------------------------
By Tariq Naqash
MUZAFFARABAD, June 24: Hundreds of people from different walks of life staged a demonstration here on Thursday to raise voice against the “unjustified delay” in reconstruction of the earthquake affected urban areas, mainly the AJK capital.
They also warned against staging a long march on to the Parliament building as well the headquarters of Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) in Islamabad if their 50-point ‘charter of demands’ was not implemented within one month.
The demonstration was held on the call of a civil society forum - Tehreek-e-Tameer-e-Nau of Movement for Reconstruction (TTN) – along the bustling thoroughfare in Chattar which houses almost all important official buildings, including that of Legislative Assembly which was in session at that time.
Led by Zahid Amin and Shaukat Javed Mir, convenor and secretary general, respectively, of TTN, the demonstrators were holding placards inscribed with their demands as well as disapproval of alleged delay in reconstruction. They were also chanting similar slogans.
Legislators from the constituents of combined opposition, Chaudhry Latif Akbar of PPAJK, Chaudhry Mohammad Rasheed of Peoples Muslim League, Abdul Majid Khan of Friends Group and Mohammad Salim Butt of MQM, also visited the venue demonstration and expressed support and solidarity with them.
They assured them that they would raise the issues of citizens in the house and play their role for their settlement.
The opposition lawmakers accused the present government of having failed to deliver on all counts, including the reconstruction.
Other speakers said that almost five years had elapsed since the devastating October 2005 earthquake but reconstruction related projects had not been initiated in the affected areas, including the state capital.
Tens of hundreds of people, they pointed out, were still living in temporary accommodations as neither the much hyped satellite towns had been developed nor the landless families had been provided with alternate land.
They alleged that the funds meant for reconstruction were being diverted by the concerned authorities somewhere else and whatever was left was being spent on non-productive activities and luxuries.
On its part the AJK government was also brazenly ignoring the reports of international experts regarding strict implementation of building codes and construction in the hazardous areas, notwithstanding the threats it was posing to lives of people.
They said that the earthquake survivors had been constantly offering sacrifices and they would not compromise on the issue of reconstruction.
Ends
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
crisis looms large over ruling Muslim Conference
By Tariq Naqash
MUZAFFARABAD, June 23: The ruling Muslim Conference in Azad Jammu and Kashmir might experience another crisis amid reports that its president, Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, has allegedly struck an underhand deal with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership to dislodge Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider shortly after the approval of next year’s budget.
Background interviews with some credible treasury and opposition lawmakers confirmed that proverbial palace intrigues were in full swing to effect yet another political change in almost four years of present Legislative Assembly’s inception.
However, Mr Khan was unable to convince even his once trusted friends to support him for a change as they believed that the move could ultimately go to the benefit of PPP’s AJK chapter, sources said.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Haider dashed off to Islamabad to hold a morale-boosting meeting with Muslim League-N leader Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif but back in Muzaffarabad he had detailed a team of ministers “to convince Mr Khan to reconcile with the present dispensation.”
Though an official handout said Mr Sharif had reiterated his commitment to uphold and strengthen the ideological bonds between the PML and MC, sources however asserted that the former Pakistan PM had in fact assured Mr Haider of his all out support against any moves aimed at bringing political change in Muzaffarabad.
A credible source in the ruling party told this correspondent, which was later confirmed by an opposition lawmaker as well, that Mr Khan had agreed at a meeting with Federal Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan affairs Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo that he would manipulate a no-trust move against Mr Haider and dissolve the assembly for fresh elections later this year.
Mr Wattoo had assured Sardar Attique that the 19 member opposition, comprising PPAJK, Peoples Muslim League, MQM and Friends Group, would support him if he pulled in only six lawmakers from his own party.
It was why Mr Wattoo had sanctioned development schemes worth Rs 400 million in the constituency of Mr Khan from the funds of AJK Council, sources said, adding Mr Khan had also softened his tone towards the central government which he was greeting with scathing criticism not too long ago.
According to sources, the planners believed that once the new government was formed in AJK initially with 19 opposition and 7 MC MLAs, other MC legislators would also jump onto the bandwagon shortly afterwards.
However, MLAs from Rajput tribe were to be kept out of the new setup, they said.
Sources further told that Mr Khan had recently met Peoples Muslim League president Barrister Sultan Mahmood and both had reportedly agreed to cooperate with each other in next elections.
There had been a similar understanding between him and the PPP leadership, they said.
Sources said PPP leadership had decided that their MLAs would not accept cabinet slots in the new government under Mr Khan, as they were eyeing the future setup.
Sources said if pushed to the wall Mr Haider could take the extreme step of dissolving assembly to frustrate the plans of Mr Khan.
“In such a situation, PML-N was bound to emerge on AJK’s political horizon,” they said.
A political analyst said it was a war of nerves and whoever managed to make the first strike will be triumphant.
Ends
Monday, June 21, 2010
Kashmiri children yearn for peace in their 'Lost Paradise'
By Tariq Naqash
MUZAFFARABAD, June 19: Annual Day functions in educational institutions have more or less same ingredients –dance performances, music and skits, but Saturday’s event in a charity school here was unique as its each and every item carried a thought provoking message about the effects of lingering Kashmir dispute on its people, particularly the younger lot.
Hailing from a gun ridden society, young children aged between 6 and 14 articulated their thoughts as well as yearning for lasting peace in their disputed Himalayan region, winning admiration from the audience which represented people from different walks of life, including AJK Legislative Assembly Speaker Shah Ghulam Qadir.
The function was organised by Sawera Model School – one of the educational institutions of Sawera Foundation which imparts free quality education to the victims of Kashmir conflict, such as children of martyrs inside the held Valley and along the Line of Control and from other vulnerable communities.
“Kashmiri children have been a prey of catastrophes in succession... The armed conflict in their motherland has rendered most of them orphans and vulnerable. They need an early settlement of lingering Kashmir problem so that their miseries and plight comes to end,” said 14-year old Rabia Khawaja who lost her father to Indian shelling in 1998.
A short play highlighted the irony of Kashmiri families affected by the armed conflict and migration, particularly the social, fiscal and family problems of those who had lost their near and dear ones.
However, the magnificent spectacle was performance on a thematic poem – “The Paradise Lost.”
It began with scenes of a crystal blue waterfall and melodies of nightingales, replaced shortly afterwards by bloodshed, bomb blasts, recurrent gunshots and fear.
“They icy and chilling cold can be endured…But what about the terror of gun? The fire in the hearth of Kangri (traditional Kashmiri fire pot) is far better than brutality of thee (gun),” read the poem, in a clear message about longing for peace.
In his address on the occasion, militant leader turned peace activist Tanvir ul Islam said children were the worst victims of Kashmiri conflict and needed the utmost attention of the international community for their grooming as ambassadors of peace, religious harmony and coexistence.
Mr Islam, it may be recalled, led the United Jihad Council, a conglomerate of Kashmiri militant groups, from 1991-93 but later switched over to peace initiatives, with main emphasis on education of vulnerable children under the banner of Sawera Foundation.
“I have dedicated my abilities and expertise to providing education to children because an educated and skilled lot can effectively fight for their rights,” he said.
Listing some of the challenges to sustenance of his welfare projects, Mr Islam urged concerned people and organisations to come forward to ensure a bright future of neglected children who could fall prey to bigots out of poverty and ignorance.
The LA speaker appreciated the efforts of Sawera Foundation and said: “Not only should our own governments but also the international organisations strengthen such institutions working for sustainable peace at grassroots level and mitigation of radicalisation.”
Former AJK minister Khawaja Farooq Ahmed said he was highly impressed by the way children from undistinguished communities had performed during the function with an awe-inspiring message.
Noted religious scholar Shahabuddin Madni also spoke and vowed to raise voice for Sawera Schools at every forum for their noble work.
Later, children were also given shields and certificates for best academic results.
Ends
Austerity Needed
Azad Jammu and Kashmir faces a challenging new financial year. There is a record Rs17.5bn deficit in the Rs47.3bn budget, with the development outlay being badly hit. Non-development expenditure has gobbled up a huge chunk of the budget (Rs36.157bn) and the AJK government has to put in a tremendous effort to bridge the gap.
The cuts the territory is facing have been attributed to the fiscal restructuring after the signing of the seventh NFC award. Though AJK is not constitutionally part of Pakistan and hence not directly entitled to a slice of the NFC pie, reductions in the federal government’s share have had a direct effect on the state’s finances. Islamabad contributes towards AJK’s development budget through ‘block allocation’ as well as other heads, and as these contributions have been scaled down, a large deficit has resulted.
Muzaffarabad contends that if the central government gave the state its due share of net hydel profits and federal taxes, its fiscal conditions could improve and it would not have to look to Islamabad for bailouts. Some observers say that friction between the AJK government and Islamabad is having an adverse effect on the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The federal government must look into these claims and if there are indeed blockages clogging up the flow of funds to AJK, they must be cleared. As far as better financial management is concerned, there are possible short- and long-term solutions for the AJK government. Observers have noted that despite the record deficit the AJK administration has not announced any austerity measures. The cabinet is too big and the government styles itself after the Punjab administration. Can Muzaffarabad afford to run a government along Lahore’s model, or is a leaner administration and belt-tightening in order? As for long-term solutions, perhaps the federal government should invest in hydroelectric power projects in AJK, which will generate income and help alleviate the national power crisis.
Ends
The cuts the territory is facing have been attributed to the fiscal restructuring after the signing of the seventh NFC award. Though AJK is not constitutionally part of Pakistan and hence not directly entitled to a slice of the NFC pie, reductions in the federal government’s share have had a direct effect on the state’s finances. Islamabad contributes towards AJK’s development budget through ‘block allocation’ as well as other heads, and as these contributions have been scaled down, a large deficit has resulted.
Muzaffarabad contends that if the central government gave the state its due share of net hydel profits and federal taxes, its fiscal conditions could improve and it would not have to look to Islamabad for bailouts. Some observers say that friction between the AJK government and Islamabad is having an adverse effect on the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The federal government must look into these claims and if there are indeed blockages clogging up the flow of funds to AJK, they must be cleared. As far as better financial management is concerned, there are possible short- and long-term solutions for the AJK government. Observers have noted that despite the record deficit the AJK administration has not announced any austerity measures. The cabinet is too big and the government styles itself after the Punjab administration. Can Muzaffarabad afford to run a government along Lahore’s model, or is a leaner administration and belt-tightening in order? As for long-term solutions, perhaps the federal government should invest in hydroelectric power projects in AJK, which will generate income and help alleviate the national power crisis.
Ends
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)