Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, has said, “Alhamdulillah, we have eradicated mafias from Azad Kashmir. The timber mafia, cigarette mafia, and food mafia are all now part of the past in Azad Kashmir.” He took the oath of office, and governance in Azad Kashmir was in a state of disarray. Today, Alhamdulillah, the governance system has returned to track. Governance begins with the enforcement of law and accountability system, and the enforcement of law begins with the Prime Minister’s personality. The Prime Minister expressed these views in a private TV channel interview.
Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq said, “Whenever Allah gives power to someone, the sense of responsibility increases exponentially. And if this doesn’t happen, it’s unfortunate, which has a heavy price to pay in this world and in the Hereafter. Alhamdulillah, I understand that as long as I have power, I am accountable to the people of Kashmir and above all to the Creator of the universe who has given me this power. I took over as Prime Minister on April 20, and by March 20, 2024, eleven months will be completed. When I took the oath, the governance structure of Azad Kashmir was in a state of disarray, resembling the October 8 earthquake. It was in a state of bed governance and corruption, and nothing else. Alhamdulillah, I am justified in saying that I have eradicated mafias in Azad Kashmir. The timber mafia, cigarette mafia, and food mafia are all now stories of the past in Azad Kashmir.”
He said, “Besides, the most important task that is the government’s concept of good governance starts with two things: the enforcement of the law and its application, which begins with the Prime Minister’s personality. I made myself accountable to the law and started accountability from my own personality. The second thing is the institution of accountability, which was abandoned, has been revived, and the Chairman of the Accountability Bureau has been appointed. A Public Service Commission institution, which is related to the future of our young boys and girls, I established such a Public Service Commission whose Chairman even the Prime Minister couldn’t dare to call. Besides that, austerity measures were taken, government transport was being misused and misuse of law was being done, which was stopped. Luxury vehicles were confiscated. About 400 vehicles have been confiscated. Transport policy has been made effective to the extent that government vehicles are no longer used for anything other than official work. The Prime Minister also tries not to use government vehicles after two o’clock. For weddings, funerals, going to happy or sad occasions, I go in a private car. Supplementary grants have always been received in the budget of the Prime Minister’s House. For the first time, this miracle will happen in the budget of the Secretariat of Azad Kashmir that by June 30, 51 percent will appear cut. It was my long-standing dream that for the destitute, widows, divorced women, divorced women, childless elderly men and women, orphaned children, and disabled persons in Azad Kashmir, a special protection program should be started. Alhamdulillah, with the help of the establishment, and I have no other opinion to say here, the vision of the Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir was that a Special Protection Program should be started in Azad Kashmir.”
Overall, the Prime Minister’s statement highlights significant reforms and efforts undertaken to tackle corruption and improve governance in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.