Pakistan’s support for Kashmiri people unwavering: PM
ISLAMABAD, Oct 5 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani reiterated that the government and people of Pakistan would always stand by their Kashmiri brethren in their quest for self-determination and continue to extend their full political, moral and diplomatic support to them. The Prime Minister was addressing the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council, which met here under his chairmanship to approve the AJ&K Council budget for the year 2011-2012. Gilani said Kashmir cause was close to the hearts of every Pakistani and their commitment to their cause of self-determination was unwavering.
He said Pakistan sought peaceful and negotiated resolution of the issue in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and in line with the aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir.
 The Prime Minister said Pakistan had called for an end to the human rights’ violations in Occupied Kashmir.
He further said Pakistan and India stood at the crossroads of history and the Kashmiri people were looking forward to the international community to fulfill their commitment by allowing them to exercise their right to determination.
 He said Pakistan had been making consistent efforts to project the Kashmir cause at international forums particularly at the United Nations, Human Rights Council and the OIC.
 Pakistan always consulted the Kashmiri leadership and in this regard Foreign Minister Ms Hina Rabbani Khar, during her visit to India, also took the Kashmiri leadership into confidence, he recalled.
 The AJ&K Council budget for the year 2011-12 was presented by Minister Incharge, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council Secretariat, Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo in the 46th Session (Budget Session) of the AJK Council.
 The Minister apprised the meeting that the AJ&K Council’s Budget 2011-12 has been prepared in consultation with the President and Prime Minister of AJ&K as well as the elected members of the AJ&K Council.
 He further informed that the Council set revenue targets of Rs. 5796.853 million for the last year(2010-11) which by the sheer efforts of the government was not only realized but a higher target of Rs. 6056.313 million was achieved.
 About the pay scales and allowances of the government employees of AJ&K, the Minister said that their revision has been proposed in line with decisions of Government of Pakistan which came into force from 1st July 2011.
He also proposed to adopt the Secretariat Allowance/ Personal Allowance and one Special increment allowed by the Azad Government of the State of Jammu and Kashmir to its employees in the same manner and to the same extent.
 The Minister laid before the Council the proposed budget estimated at Rs. 8352.234 million for the year 2011-12.  A brief statement is given here below.
 The Overall Proposed Receipts of Rs. 6,192 million included tax revenues of Rs. 6000 million, Non-Tax Revenue Rs. 165.123 and Capital Receipts Rs. 26.877.
 The Overall Proposed Expenditure of Rs. 8352.234 million included 80% share of the AK&K Govt, out of net Income Tax Receipts (including difference of Rs. 346.249 million for 2010-11 of Rs. 5182.234 and refund of deductions made against loan of Rs. 1.4 billion @ Rs. 200 million P.A), development expenditure of Rs 2200 million and non-development expenditure of Rs 970 million.
 There is shortfall of Rs. 2160.234 million which would be met through various measures including savings (non-development) of Rs.  90.234 million, Receipts from PTA of Rs. 370 million, increase in income tax of Rs. 100 million and Grant from Govt. of Pakistan of Rs. 1600 million.
 The total outlay of the development budget is Rs. 2200 million which includes the development funds of Rs. 25 million for each member.The Council accorded unanimous approval to the above proposed
 budget for AJ&K for the year 2011-12. The Council also approved the revised estimates of Rs. 8632.065 million for the year 2010-11 President AJ&K Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan thanked the Prime Minister for the generous allocation of funds, which are instrumental in the completion of the mega projects in AJ&K.
The establishment of three medical colleges and the Agriculture University in the Azad Kashmir are the worth mentioning projects.
 Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir Chaudhry Abdul Majid thanked the Prime Minister for the re-affirmation of Pakistan’s support to the Kashmiri people.
He said, “We will follow the vision of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto on the Kashmir issue because that determined the collective destiny of the Kashmiri people with honour and dignity.”
 The AJ&K Prime Minister said that the indigenous freedom movement in the occupied Kashmir has intensified despite the unleashing of the brutal force of the Indian Security Forces.
The Kashmiri people are committed to the Pakistani people and they saw no other way leading to their salvation, he added.
 The AJ&K Prime Minister congratulated the Prime Minister of Pakistan on holding All Parties Conference, which united the whole nation on the issue of national security and demonstrated its determination to face the challenges head on.
 The Prime Minister paid tributes to Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who gave Constitution to the AJ&K that accorded respectable status to the people and the AJ&K. Prior to that a Section Officer used to run the affairs of the AJ&K, he said.
 The Council Session was also attended by Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister for Religious Affairs/ Member, AJ&K Council Syed Khurshid Shah and AJK Council members Ms. Sherry Rehman and Nawab Muhammad Yousaf Talpur.
 Ghulam Raza Shah Naqvi, Chairman PAC/Member AJ&K Council, Pervaiz Akhtar, Chairman Standing Committee/Member AJ&K Council, Ch, Muhammad Khan, Member AJ&K Council, Sardar Muhammad Naeem Khan, Member AJ& K Council, Ch, Muhammad Mahboob, Member AJ&K Council and Sardar Muhammad Saghir Khan, Member AJ& K Council and senior officers of the relevant Ministries were also present.