Nawaz Sharif promises 10-fold increase in AJK budget at Muzaffarabad rally

MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has pledged a tenfold increase in the budget of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) if his party comes to power, while Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced a series of development initiatives, including green buses, mobile hospitals, scholarships and laptops for Kashmiri students.

While addressing a large crowd gathered at the University Ground in Muzaffarabad during his election campaign, Nawaz Sharif declared that his connection with the people of Azad Kashmir and India illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir is based on love and commitment rather than being purely political.

Azad Kashmir means a lot to him, and he promised to develop the region, making it the most developed area of Pakistan.

The question raised by Nawaz Sharif in his address was why important development projects like motorways were not being constructed in Muzaffarabad. The project that is planned is the construction of a motorway along the river Jhelum for the development of tourism, business, and transport.

Nawaz Sharif requested Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to make sure that the development in Azad Kashmir takes place at the same speed as welfare and developmental projects in Punjab. He told the audience that all the important matters of the area will be sorted out firsthand if his party comes into power.

The former Prime Minister also told the people of Muzaffarabad that within a few days they would get 10 green buses, along with 15 mobile hospitals.

He further pledged to visit Azad Kashmir every three months to personally review development projects and monitor the implementation of election promises.

In a light-hearted remark, Nawaz Sharif said that if the people voted for the PML-N, he would ask Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to make him the prime minister of Azad Kashmir so that he could personally oversee the region’s development agenda.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Describe Kashmir as Her Own Home

Addressing the same rally, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the PML-N believed in the politics of development, education and public service.

According to her, the party’s goal was to have the Kashmiris equipped with laptops and not weapons. In addition, she stressed that education, skills and technology were necessary for the progress of the nation.

While speaking at the rally in Muzaffarabad, Maryam Nawaz made it clear that she did not view herself as a guest but considered the entire Kashmir as her own native place. She repeated that the link between Pakistan and Kashmir was eternal and could not be disturbed by any power in the world.

Not specifying any political party, she condemned them for delivering speeches and allegations without solving the problems of the people. In her view, the PML-N had fulfilled all its commitments and cited development projects carried out in Punjab as proof.

The chief minister of Punjab revealed that, besides 10 green buses and 15 mobile hospitals, the Punjab government would also help expand welfare programs in Azad Kashmir.

As an additional gift, she said that Punjab government’s “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” housing program would be extended to the area and 2,000 scholarships and 5,000 laptops would be provided to talented students.

Maryam Nawaz additionally recommended the launching of the program called “Suthra Jammu and Kashmir”.

Furthermore, she stated that she would ask the Prime Minister to grant interest-free loans for business purposes to Kashmiri youths and issue Himmat cards to disabled people.

Both leaders appealed to their supporters to vote for the PML-N in the coming elections, which would lead to an era of development and prosperity with quality health care and education in Azad Kashmir.