MUZAFFARABAD: Prime Minister Azad Kashmir Chaudhry Anwarul Haq said that the historic resolution adopted on March 23, 1940, at Lahore changed the course of the region’s history.”Despite the fiercest opposition, the dream, envisioned by our forefathers, was finally realized in the form of an independent Pakistan under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah”, the AJK premier said.
He said that 23 March bears a special significance for the Muslims of the subcontinent as on this day they laid the foundation for the creation of a separate homeland for themselves. Lauding the historic struggle of the Muslims of the subcontinent that culminated in the shape of Pakistan, he said, Kashmiri leadership has also been at the forefront of the Pakistan movement
He said that the historic gathering at Lahore was also attended by the representatives of the Kashmiri people.
He said that the ongoing movement in Occupied Kashmir was actually an extension of the Pakistan movement, which has been kept alive by Kashmiris with their blood. Terming Kashmiris as Pakistani by choice, he said, “Pakistan is a true sympathizer and a center of hope for the Kashmiri Muslims”.He said that Kashmiris not only took part in the Pakistan movement but also aligned their fate with Pakistan much before its creation
He expressed the hope that the sacrifices rendered by the Kashmiri would reach to fruition and the objectives of the July 19 resolution would be materialized soon
Referring to ideological, geographical, historical, cultural and religious relationship between the people of Kashmir and Pakistan, the AJK premier said that no power on earth can break this bond that is rooted deep in the hearts and minds of the people.
Meanwhile, Ch. Anwarul Haq has said that his government has completely eradicated corruption and mafias from Azad Kashmir. “Timber mafia, cigarette mafia, and food mafia are now a thing of the past”, PM Haq said during his interview on a TV channel.
He said that the governance system was now back on track. He said that good governance was directly linked to enforcement of law and accountability. He said that equal application of law to all was key to sustainable development and progress.
He said that implementation of law and accountability has to start at the top level and trickle down throughout the rest of society. PM Haq said that being prime minister of the state he had presented himself for accountability. “When I took the oath, the governance structure of the state was in shambles”, he said, adding that the state was on the brink of disaster due to poor governance and corruption. He said that the key appointments including the appointment of the Chairman of the Accountability Bureau, and chairman of the Public Service Commission were made on merit. He said that several initiatives were taken to improve education and the health care system. He said that the government’s austerity drive has been instrumental in reducing expenditure.
He said that the illegal use of government vehicles has been completely banned.
“About 400 surplus vehicles were auctioned”, he said, adding that no one is allowed to use government vehicles except for official work. Prime Minister Haq said that he also tries not to use the government vehicle after two o’clock. Referring to his government’s austerity drive, he said this was for the first time that the budget for Prime Minister’s Secretariat would be reduced by 51% by June 30. He said that since 1985 supplementary grants were released to meet the expenditures of the PM Secretariat.
He said that a special social protection program would be launched in Azad Kashmir soon under which widows, divorcees, homeless, orphans, and disabled persons would get financial assistance. Prime Minister Haq praised the Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir’s vision and approach, which he said, had led to the redressal of the issues faced by the AJK government.” Efforts were made to discuss all the problems of Azad Kashmir, which no one used to talk about in the past”, he said the issue of Kashmir Council was also resolved and property worth billions were handed over to the AJK government.
He said that an endowment fund worth ten billion rupees would be established under which neglected and poor sections of the society would get relief monthly regularly. He said that the main focus of his government was on the socioeconomic development of the state.
He said that road infrastructure was being improved and new roads were being constructed all across the state. He said that tourism in Azad Kashmir was linked to the improvement of roads. He said that 25 crore rupees were being provided to each constituency. He said that reforms were also introduced in health and other sectors to improve the overall performance of departments.
