Prime Minister Azad Kashmir Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq, while reiterating his commitment to ensure good governance in the state, has said that the government was working day in day out to improve the system of governance besides providing other basic amenities of life to the masses. While addressing the swearing-in ceremony of the office bearers of Kashmir Press Club Bhimber here today, the PM said that a number of initiatives have been taken to improve road infrastructure, promoting tourism, increase hydel-power efficiency and revenues and creating job opportunities for youth at local level. He said that development projects worth billions of rupees were in progress in Azad Kashmir. He said that people of Azad Kashmir were being provided cheap electricity. Referring to his plan to expand sustainable energy, the PM said that the government was focusing on solar energy.
Stressing the need for ending the culture of polarization, the PM said that promoting love and brotherhood in the society was ruler’s responsibility.
The ruler, he said, was a guarantor for rightful utilization of public money.
He said that the menace of corruption in politics has been eradicated. “I work 18 hours a day”, the PM said, adding that if the prime minister can work for 18 hours, then why not a government employee. The PM said that after assuming charge of the government he had to fight a long battle against the Mafia.
He said that serving underprivileged and weaker segments of society was his first and foremost priority. “An endowment fund of 5 billion rupees has been set-up for this purpose”, he said. The PM said that he has tried to break the status quo by preventing misuse of public exchequer and by inducting efficient and honest officers in the bureaucracy. “Three billion rupees have been saved through austerity measures taken by the government”, he added. He said that 28 secretaries have been appointed on merit in the bureaucracy. “There is no political interference in Public Service Commission, even President or prime minister won’t dare to call the chairman”, he said, adding that now lecturers and doctors would be appointed on the basis of merit. He said that it was unfortunate that during the last 10 years recruitments were made on the basis of nepotism and cronyism instead of merit. The PM said that he has put an end to protocol culture. The PM, he said, moves from one place to another with just two vehicles instead of a 33-vehicle convoy. The PM, on the occasion, announced a 1 million rupees grant for the welfare of journalists. He assured the journalist community of solving their problems. The function was attended by senior minister Col. retired Waqar Noor, and newly elected office bearers of the Bhimber press club. Meanwhile, the PM spent a busy day in his native constituency. He reached his home town in a private vehicle without any protocol. Elders from all over the constituency, prominent political and social personalities including , lawyers, businessmen and journalists visited his residence and offered him their heartfelt felicitations on performing Ummrah. He also visited the ancestral graveyard and offered Fateh at his mother’s grave.