Pak committed to negotiated settlement of Kashmir dispute: Gilani

[Pak_Army]

Pak committed to negotiated settlement of Kashmir dispute: Gilani
ISLAMABAD, May 24 (INP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that despite Pakistan’s own regional challenges, it remains committed to peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue through negotiations and dialogue.
The Prime Minister was talking to the President AJK Raja Zulqarnain Khan and Prime Minister AJK, Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider here at PM’s House on Monday.
The Prime Minister said that there is an imperative need to end the long legacy of hostility and distrust and to work towards a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He reaffirmed that Pakistan will continue to support the just cause of the people of Kashmir. He said that whole nation is united on the Kashmir issue and stand with their Kashmiri brothers and sisters for the realization of their fundamental and inalienable rights.
Commenting on the development activities in AJK, the Prime Minister said that effective monitoring of the ongoing projects would ensure their timely completion. He said that the funds allocated for these projects would be released in time adding that these should be utilized with efficiency so that maximum relief could be provided to the masses.
The President and the Prime Minister of AJ&K thanked the Prime Minister for Pakistan’s un-wavered support to the cause of Kashmir. They also appreciated the provision of funds for the development projects in AJK.
Earlier while chairing a meeting to review the performance of ERRA, also attended by the President and Prime Minister of AJK, the Prime Minister emphasized on further improving coordination among all the stakeholders to ensure that reconstruction in earthquake affected areas in AJK and Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa does not slow down.
The Prime Minister said that due to the government’s firm resolve and timely provision of resources to Earthquake rehabilitation Authority (ERRA), living conditions have improved in the affected areas. He noted with satisfaction that ERRA is the only organization in the world which is spending 0.8% on non-development expenditure.
The Prime Minister also welcomed the new Deputy Chairman ERRA, Lt. General Muhammad Haroon Aslam and asked him to prepare a plan for effective implementation of the policies in order to achieve the targets. The funds allocated for rehabilitation and reconstruction works, he said be judiciously utilized.
The Chairman ERRA Altaf Saleem while briefing the Prime Minister on further financial needs mentioned that ever since the present government came into power the pace of reconstruction work in earthquake affected areas has doubled.
The Deputy Chairman ERRA said that he had reviewed the progress of work done uptill now and the performance has been very satisfactory. He assured to keep up the pace of work for early completion of reconstruction projects.
Minister for Kashmir and Bilgit-Baltistan Affairs, Mian Manzoor Ahmed Watto was also present in the meetings.