AJK govt accepts protestors demands, reduces electricity, flour prices

MUZAFFARABAD: Negotiations between Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) have reached a successful conclusion as the government accepted the protestors’ demands.

During the press conference after meeting with PM Shehbaz in Islamabad, AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwaar-ul-Haq said that all the demands of the All Jammu and Kashmir Public Action Committee have been accepted.

Furthermore, the Chief Secretary Azad Kashmir said that internet services have been restored across the state.

Addressing a press conference, Prime Minister Azad Kashmir said that PM Shehbaz assured him during a telephonic conversation last night about the flour crisis in the region within 24 hours.

The Prime Minister expressed his awareness of the current situation and said that the elected and democratic government of Azad Kashmir understands the public mandate.

He clarified that the government has no intention of suppressing the peaceful protest of the people, neither in the past nor now.

READ MORE: Holiday in Muzaffarabad as protest against inflation enters fourth day

Following the successful negotiation, the Azad Kashmir government has issued a notification of a reduction in the price of flour and new electricity rates.

According to the notification issued by the AJK Food Department, the price of 40kg of flour has been fixed at Rs 2000 and the price of 20 kg of flour has been fixed at Rs 1000.

Apart from this, the price of electricity up to 100 units has been fixed at Rs 3 per unit. Moreover, the government fixed 100 to 300 units at Rs 5 and above 300 at Rs 6 per unit.

According to the notification, the commercial tariff has been fixed at Rs 10 per unit for up to 300 units and Rs 15 per unit for 300 and above.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif approved the immediate provision of Rs23 billion to solve the recent grievances of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

Today, the wheel jam and shutter down strike over high flour and electricity prices entered its fourth day.

Yesterday, Rangers were deployed in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) after clashes between the protestors and police in Mirpur on Saturday killed Sub-Inspector Adnan Qureshi and injured over 100 across AJK.