Federal govt allocates mega development package worth over Rs 53 billion for Azad Kashmir

ISLAMABAD (Rizwan Abbasi): The federal government has proposed a mega development package worth over Rs 53 billion for the development of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in Budget 2025-26, including education, energy, infrastructure sector, and rehabilitation of the victims of the Line of Control.

Under the Prime Minister’s special package, projects such as Danish schools, power projects, construction and repair of roads and bridges, and establishment of medical and educational institutions will be completed in different districts of Azad Kashmir.

As per the Finance Bill 2025-26, under this special package, the government has proposed block allocations of 32 billion rupees and Rs 5 billion as the Prime Minister’s Special Package for Azad Kashmir.

A symbolic allocation of Rs 1 has been proposed for the Jagran Phase-II Hydropower Project. Under the same package, Rs 2.97 billion has been approved for the construction of the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly Complex, Rs 1.37 billion for the remaining construction of the Rathoa Haryam Bridge on the Mirpur-Islamgarh Road, and Rs 1.77 billion for the Mirpur MBBS Medical College.

It has been proposed to allocate Rs 421.3 million for the Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq Shaheed Medical College, Muzaffarabad, while Rs 419.3 million has been proposed for the construction of the Nauseri-Leswa Bypass Road.

Furthermore, Rs 600 million has been allocated for the rehabilitation of the affected people of the Line of Control and Rs 10 million for the water supply and sewerage scheme in Mirpur city and its suburbs.

In the Finance Bill, the government has proposed to allocate Rs 20 million for the 40 MW Durian Hydropower Project in Neelum District.

The federal development package has also given special attention to the expansion of cellular services, Phase IV for Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, for which a budget of Rs 500 million has been proposed.

It has been proposed to allocate Rs 300 million for the establishment of a women’s university in Bagh, Azad Kashmir, and Rs 77 million for the development of educational and research facilities in the University of Kotli.

The federal government has already proposed a total of Rs 30 billion for the Danish Schools project in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Balochistan, considering which it has been proposed to allocate Rs 8 billion in the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26.

This special development package is being described as a milestone for the development of education, economy, energy, and infrastructure in the region, the positive effects of which will reach the people directly.