Pakistan’s support for Kashmiri people is unwavering: Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Budget for 2011-12 approved

Islamabad: While addressing the AJ and K Council Session, which met here today under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister to approve the AJ and K budget for the year 2011-2012, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani reiterated that the Government and the people of Pakistan would always stand by their Kashmiri brethren in their quest for self-determination and continue to extend their full political, moral and diplomatic support to them.

The Prime Minister said that the Kashmir cause was close to the hearts of every Pakistani and their commitment to their cause of self-determination was unwavering, adding Pakistan sought peaceful and negotiated resolution of the issue in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and in line with the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan had called for an end to the human rights violations in the occupied Kashmir. He further said that Pakistan and India stood at the crossroad of history and the Kashmiri people were looking forward to the international community to fulfil their commitment by allowing them to exercise their right to determination.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan had been making consistent efforts to project the Kashmiri cause at international forums particularly at the United Nations, the Human Rights Council and the OIC.

He said that Pakistan always consulted the Kashmiri leadership in this regard and Foreign Minister Ms Hina Rabbani Khar, during her visit to India, also took the Kashmiri leadership into confidence.

The AJ and K budget for the year 2011-12 was presented by Minister Incharge, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council Secretariat, Mian Manzoor Ahmed Watto in the 46th Session (Budget Session) of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council.

The Minister apprised the meeting that the AJ and K Council’s Budget 2011-12 has been prepared in consultation with the President and Prime Minister of AJ and K as well as the elected members of the AJ and K Council.

He further informed that the Council set revenue targets of Rs. 5796.853 million for the last year(2010-11) which by the sheer efforts of the government was not only realized but a higher target Rs. 6056.313 was achieved.

About the pay scales and allowances of the government employees of AJ and K, the Minister said that their revision has been proposed in line with the Government of Pakistan which came into force from 1st July 2011.

He also proposed to adopt the Secretariat Allowance/ Personal Allowance and one Special increment allowed by the Azad Govt. of the State of Jammu and Kashmir to its employees in the same manner and to the same extent. The Minister laid before the Council the proposed budget estimated at Rs. 8352.234. Million for the year 2011-12. A brief statement is given here below.

Overall Proposed Expenditure                   In millions

(a) 80% share of the AK and K Govt. out of

net Income Tax Receipts (including

difference of Rs. 346.249 million for 2010-11 Rs. 5182.234

and refund of deductions made against loan

of Rs. 1.4 billion @ Rs. 200 million P.A.

There is shortfall of Rs. 2160.534 million which would be met though the following measures

In Millions

The total outlay of the development budget is Rs. 2200 million which includes the development funds of Rs. 25 million for each Member.

The Council accorded unanimous approval to the above proposed budget for AJ and K for the year 2011-12. The Council also approved the revised estimates of Rs. 8632.065 million for the year 2010-11

President AJ and K Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan thanked the Prime Minister for the generous allocation of funds, which are instrumental in the completion of the mega projects in AJ and K. The establishment of three medical colleges and the Agriculture University in the Azad Kashmir are the worth-mentioning projects in this regard.

Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, Chaudhry Abdul Majid, thanked the Prime Minister of Pakistan for the re-affirmation of Pakistan’s support to the Kashmiri people. He said that we would follow the vision of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto on the Kashmir issue because that determined the collective destiny of the Kashmiri people with honour and dignity.

The Prime Minister said that the indigenous freedom movement in the occupied Kashmir has intensified despite the unleashing of the brutal force of the Indian Security Forces. The Kashmiri people are committed to the Pakistani people and they saw no other way leading to their salvation, the Prime Minister said.

The AJ and K Prime Minister congratulated the Prime Minister of Pakistan on holding All Parties Conference, which united the whole nation on the issue of national security and demonstrated its determination to face the challenges head-on.

The Prime Minister paid tributes to Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who gave Constitution to the AJ and K that accorded respectable status to the people and the AJ and K. Prior to that a Section Officer used to run the affairs of the AJ and K, the Prime Minister said.

The Council Session was also attended by Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar, Syed Khurshid Shah, Minister for Religious Affairs/ Member, AJ and K Council, Ms. Sherry Rehman ,MNA/Member, AJ and K Council, Nawab Muhammad Yousaf Talpur, MNA/Member, AJ and K Council, Mr.Ghulam Raza Shah Naqvi, Chairman PAC/Member AJ and K Council,Mr.Pervaiz Akhtar, Chairman Standing Committee/Member AJ and K Council, Ch, Muhammad Khan, Member AJ and K Council, Sardar Muhammad Naeem Khan, Member AJ and K Council, Ch, Muhammad Mahboob, Member AJ and K Council and Sardar Muhammad Saghir Khan, Member AJ and  K Council and senior officers of the relevant Ministries.

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