The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) of the Government of Pakistan on Wednesday approved over Rs. 9.23 billion for the completion of the Mirpur-Islamgarh (Rathuaa-Harrayaam) Bridge project in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). AJK Minister for Mangla Dam Affairs and Mangla Dam Housing Authority, Qasim Majeed Chaudhry announced the approval of the project during a press conference. The 3-kilometer-long bridge which spans the Mangla Dam reservoir has been a long-standing project of significance for the region. The construction work had been abandoned for over a decade due to alleged mismanagement by previous governments. He credited the efforts of AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq who had raised the issue with the Government of Pakistan and formed several committees to ensure the project’s completion. Qasim Majeed Chaudhry stated that the approval of this project is a great gift for the people of Kashmir especially the over one million UK-based Kashmiri expatriates from the Mirpur district. He emphasized that the project will serve as a gateway for the development and economic activities in the scenic Mirpur district, transforming it into a hub of tourism and a modern city. The minister expressed gratitude to the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif and the national security institutions for their support in securing the ECNEC’s approval for this long-awaited project. Separately, the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP), in its 24th meeting of current financial year here on Wednesday, approved six development schemes worth Rs 14.383 billion. Presided over by P&D Board Chairman Barrister Nabeel Ahmad Awan, the meeting approved the following schemes: Provision of wheelchairs, prosthetics, hearing aids, and other assistive devices for PWDs, costing Rs 1,000 million Chief Minister Population Management and Family Planning Program, costing Rs 1,000 million Improvement of Jhang-Toba Tek Singh road from Shakarganj Sugar Mill to Toba Tek Singh Motorway Interchange, Length: 24.00 km, Districts Jhang and Toba Tek Singh, costing Rs 999.726 million Rehabilitation of Jhang-Bhakkar Road from Mallu More to Bharairhi, KM No. 231.00 to 272.00, Length: 41.00 km, District Jhang, costing Rs 2,790.084 million Design and construction of a Net Zero Energy Building (ACEIP, DLI-8), costing Rs 6283.836 million. Construction of Rohtas Fort By-Pass Road, Length: 3.45 km, District Jhelum, costing Rs 2,309.671 million The meeting was attended by P&D Board Secretary Dr. Asif Tufail, Chief Economist Masoud Anwar, members of the P&D Board, heads and other senior representatives of relevant departments.