AJK Prime Minister Reaffirms Constitutional Status and Financial Autonomy, Rejects Reports of Change

MUZAFFARABAD, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Barrister Iftikhar Gilani has reaffirmed that his government will not compromise on the constitutional status or financial autonomy of Azad Kashmir, categorically ruling out any move to alter the state’s existing position. Addressing the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, the Prime Minister dismissed social media reports suggesting a possible change in the status of Azad Kashmir, describing them as baseless misinformation aimed at creating confusion. He urged those raising concerns over the status quo to present credible information or evidence to substantiate their claims, rather than making statements that could create divisions and fuel unrest in the state. He also assured the House that the government would take the opposition into confidence and work towards political consensus on key issues. Highlighting progress on major infrastructure projects, Gilani said construction work on the Rathoa Haryam Bridge had reached 99 per cent completion. He added that the Prime Minister of Pakistan would inaugurate the long-awaited project shortly. On education, the Prime Minister announced that the Mirpur Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education was preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Cambridge examination board to improve its academic standards and institutional performance. He expressed confidence that the initiative would help transform the Mirpur Board into the best educational board in Pakistan. Addressing concerns over the quality of subsidised flour, Gilani said the matter would be resolved on a priority basis. He observed that the government was providing flour subsidies amounting to nearly the equivalent of the entire annual development budget of Azad Kashmir, underscoring the scale of financial support being extended to consumers. The Prime Minister also emphasised that the Mirpur Board was a state-wide institution and should not be viewed through divisional or district-based considerations. He called for a broader collective approach to strengthen the institution and improve its performance for the benefit of students across Azad Kashmir.