PM Rathore Details Progress on 39-Point Agreement, Prioritizes Public Welfare and Governance Reforms in AJK

Muzaffarabad(PID)02-01-2026Prime Minister Azad Kashmir  Faisal Mumtaz Rathore on Friday shared with media the details of the implementation of the agreement reached with the Joint Awami Action Committee.Briefing the media after a cabinet meeting, the prime minister said that the PPP government did not waste even a single moment in resolving issues related to public interest.The government, he said, accorded top priority to implementing the agreement in order to resolve the public grievances that had led people to take to the streets last year. “During the past two and a half years of the government, there was a disconnect between the people and the government, which has now been effectively bridged by the people’s government”, he said. Terming dialogue as the only way forward, he said that even the biggest problem can be resolved only through dialogue and discussion.The prime minister emphasized the urgent need to deal with issues prudently and move forward in the right direction with a positive approach to resolving problems, particularly those related to governance. He said that the development of the state and welfare of its people remain the first and foremost preferences of the incumbent government PM Rathore reiterated his commitment to hold an investment conference and free and fair elections in the state.  He said that safeguarding the state’s vital interests takes precedence over any ego or political considerations for the government. “Since the agreement is being implemented there is no justification for putting the ordinary citizens to the test”, he remarked.  Regarding the implementation of the 39-point agreement reached with the Action Committee, Minister for Finance Chaudhry Qasim Majeed provided a clause-wise update. He said that under clause 1 of the agreement, the government has withdrawn 177 out of 192 FIRs. He further added that, in line with the agreement, the 15 FIRs related to deaths have been referred to the cabinet, and a motion has now been moved in the Supreme Court to appoint a respected judge to head two judicial commissions tasked with reviewing the FIRs.  The minister emphasized that these steps demonstrate the government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises under the agreement and ensuring justice while maintaining public trust.In compliance with the demand of Clause 02 of the agreement, he said that the government has paid compensation to the families of those killed and injured in the incidents of October 1 and 2, 2025, while the brother of the late Fayyaz has been provided with a job as a stenographer in the B-14 Electricity Department, and one member of the family of each of the other deceased has been provided with a job in the Electricity Department. “The cabinet has approved the establishment of two additional intermediate and secondary education boards for Muzaffarabad and Poonch divisions by the government under clause 03 of the agreement”, he added. Regarding the transfer of land to the affected families of the Mangla Dam Up-Raising Project,  the minister and that the committee has submitted its report and will be implemented as soon as possible. He said that the existing Local Government Act has been replaced with the 1990 Act after necessary amendments, however, the matter in this regard is pending in the High Court. The cabinet, he said, has also approved the issuance of health cards and services will be available from 20th January onwards.About the installation of MRI and CT scan machines, Mr. Majeed stated that the Planning and Development Department has approved a PC-1 of Rs. 5.5 billion from the DWP Forum for the installation of MRI and CT scan machines in all district hospitals.He said that a formal request for the provision of required funds have also been sent to the federal government.

The federal government, he added, has assured Rs. 10 billion for the upgradation of the electricity system.Referring to clause 9 of the agreement, he stated that the government implemented it faithfully, ensuring the cabinet size remained at 20 members.He added that while the number of departments has also been reduced to 20, there are 20 government secretaries in addition to the Chief Secretary.The finance minister further said that the Accountability Bureau and Anti-Corruption Bureau have been merged and the approved amendments to accountability laws will take effect after the next Legislative Assembly session.He stated that the Central Design Office, upon assessing mountain stability, has concluded that tunnels at Kahuri Kamsar Road and Chaplani on Neelum Valley Road are no longer required, however, the National Highway Authority of Pakistan is processing the approval, and the potential use of Saudi funds for the Muzaffarabad–Mansehra Expressway is under review.He said that, in addition to the constituencies of Azad Kashmir, a constitutional committee on refugee seats has been formed, and its meeting is being held in Islamabadtoday. Regarding the FIRs relating to the incidents in Banjonsa, Muzaffarabad, Plak, Dhirkat, Mirpur and Rayan Kotli, he said that following cabinet approval, a motion has been submitted to the Registrar of the Honorable High Court to appoint a respected judge to head the judicial commissions tasked with reviewing the registered FIRs.He said that a feasibility report for the Mirpur airport has been prepared by the federal government, with further decisions to be made in the Monitoring and Implementation Committee meeting on January 5, 2026. Tax on property transfer, he said, has been raise to 8.5%, equivalent to the rate of Punjab.”Similarly, the draft agreement for the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project has been sent to the federal Government for implementation”, he maintained.He mentioned that following feasibility studies of the Greater Water Supply Schemes in ten districts, the Jhelum Valley and Haveli projects are under construction, the Sidhnoti study has been completed, the Muzaffarabad design is nearing completion, Kotli’s scheme is slated for inclusion in the ADP, and the feasibility assessments for the remaining five district headquarters are in progress. He said that the Planning and Development Department has approved the PC-1 for MRI and CT scan machines costing Rs. 5.5 billion for all hospitals by January 1, 2026, and recommendations are being submitted to the federal government for funding.The minister stated that the Gulpur Bridge project in Kotli district has been incorporated into the ADP, while the Central Design Office has assessed Rehman Bridge as satisfactory, and the surrounding approach road is being rebuilt.He added that scrapping the advance tax under Article 20 would create an immediate Rs 35 billion deficit, which he said was unaffordable for the government at this time. The issue, he said, was being further reviewed and discussions on the matter were underway with the Action Committee and the Monitoring and Implementation Committee platform.

He said admissions to all educational institutions under the Department of Higher Education were being solely made on open merit.He stated that the cabinet has sanctioned the inclusion of water supply and transmission line projects for Dadyal Kashmir Colony in the ADP Regarding the granting of ownership rights to the refugees of Mander Colony Dadyal, he said that the Khalsa Land Ownership Rights Grant Rules 2021 have expired, due to which the new policy is in the final stages of formulation.He said that the cabinet has approved a transport policy under which no one will be allowed to misuse government vehicles, and a transport officer will be appointed in each department to ensure effective implementation of the policy.Under the new policy, he said that only government departments will be allowed to use green number plates.The minister said that a Monitoring and Implementation Committee has been constituted to oversee the implementation of the agreement; one meeting has already taken place, and the next is set for January 5, 2026.The finance minister said that the brother of the late Azhar has been provided employment in the Electrical Department.He said that following a cabinet decision, a notification has been issued to waive electricity bills of the victims of the Mangla Dam Up-Raising Project, and no future bills will be issued to them.He added that the government is conducting a study on the realignment and reconditioning of the Kahuta–Azad Pattan Road within Sidhnoti district, as well as the sections of the road falling in Punjab.The minister said that the Electricity Department has adopted e-tendering for the purchase of meters.To improve the quality of flour, he said, the PASSCO Food Department is supplying 50 percent local and 50 percent imported wheat to Azad Jammu and Kashmir.He said that the CEO of the Universal Service Fund has been appointed to improve cellular and internet services in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.The minister added that a garbage segregation scheme for Azad Jammu and Kashmir has been included in the Annual Development Programme.He said that a committee comprising the ministers for Local Government and Education, along with students, has been formed to revive student unions and propose a code of conduct.He said that the 5 kV tariff condition has been abolished for private schools and colleges, while electricity tariffs for commercial consumers have been fixed at Rs 25 per unit for consumption up to 1,500 units and Rs 35 per unit for consumption beyond that.He added that steps are being taken to prevent electricity theft and expressed hope that the Joint Public Action Committee would cooperate in this regard.The finance minister said that the government has provided Rs 2.9 billion to meet the requirement for the scheduling of the Bank of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, adding that the bank’s application process is underway and it will be scheduled soon. Finance Minister Chaudhry Qasim Majeed expressed gratitude to the Government of Pakistan, the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, and national institutions for their cooperation in implementing the agreement.On this occasion, government ministers Diwan Ali Khan Chughtai, Chaudhry Rafique Nayyar, Chief Secretary Khushal Khan, Principal Secretary Zafar Mahmood Khan, and Information Secretary Adnan Khurshid were also present.