MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) cabinet held its first meeting on Friday, approving nine of the 11 items on its agenda, officials said. Briefing reporters after the two-hour session, cabinet member Sardar Javed Ayoub said the cabinet endorsed announcements made by Prime Minister Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore in his maiden address, including the permanent regularisation of grade-1 employees and upgradation of drivers from grade-4 to grade-5.
Read More: Newly formed AJK cabinet assigned portfolios
The prime minister directed that the Health Card issue be reviewed and resubmitted for cabinet approval within a week. He also instructed the preparation of a comprehensive proposal to address staff shortages in educational institutions and to establish new schools where needed.
The cabinet approved the provision of 30 kilometres of roads in each constituency and an additional 500 kilometres of inter- and intra-district roads requiring repair. Long-pending pensions of local council staff and risk allowances for employees clearing mountainous roads during the rainy season were also approved.
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Prime Minister Rathore allocated portfolios to 18 ministers and two advisers. Senior PPP minister Mian Abdul Waheed retained law, justice, parliamentary affairs, and human rights. Key portfolios went to PPP stalwarts: Sardar Javed Ayoub (forests, wildlife, fisheries, Muzaffarabad Development Authority), Syed Bazil Ali Naqvi (health), Javed Iqbal Budhanvi (food), and Nabila Ayoub (Kashmir cause, arts, languages).
Among other assignments, Sardar Ziaul Qamar received works and communications; Chaudhry Amar Yasin local government and rural development; Chaudhry Qasim Majeed finance and inland revenue; and new PPP entrants and advisers retained or received portfolios covering education, energy, tourism, agriculture, trade, sports, and youth affairs. The prime minister retained information, rehabilitation, and IT portfolios.