AJK cabinet approves special courts for overseas Kashmiris, 2% sports budget

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) cabinet in its second meeting considered 19 agenda items and majority of them were accepted.

Government officials said the cabinet approved the setting up of special courts for Kashmiris abroad and earmarking two per cent of the budget for promoting sports. It also okayed the establishment of centers of excellence for gemstones to develop the sector for precious stones.

The government’s 100-day agenda is to be unveiled soon. The scheme seeks to upgrade two basic health units and one rural health center in each district.

The proposal also includes constructing up catheterisation laboratories in Bhimber, Kotli and Rawalakot and two stroke centers across Azad Kashmir.

The cabinet also approved financial aid to clear pension-related concerns of the retired personnel of the local government agencies. It also approved unification of administrative structures of State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and State Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (SERRA).

The government ministers also added that initiatives like Dhee Rani Program, Suthra Kashmir Program, Himmat Card, Clinic on Wheels and IT digitalisation projects would also be launched shortly.

Special focus would be paid to the promotion of tourism and enhancement of the capability of government institutions, they said.