Kupwara, Nov 18: Asserting that dialogue between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan was a good omen, the Minister for Forests and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad, on Friday said that the cordial relations between two neighboring countries can lead Jammu and Kashmir towards a new era of development and prosperity. He said Omar Abdullah led Government always pleads for a lasting peace in the State.
 The Minister while addressing a gathering at Machipora here in north Kashmir said, “Government has taken various steps to tackle unemployment problem and launched a novel Sher-i-Kashmir Employment Welfare Policy. The main purpose of the new employment policy is to generate more and more employment opportunities for the unemployed youth.”
 The Minister said that Kupwara district mostly Rajwar area had suffered a lot during last two decades of turmoil but the people faced it very bravely and participated in good numbers in recently held Panchayat elections.
 Mian Altaf said that holding of Panchayat election in the JK was a landmark decision and by which responsibility of overall development and other activities directly rests with newly elected Panchs and Sarpanchs.
 The Minister announced Rs 1 crore for the development of Handwara forests under the centrally sponsored scheme “CAMPA”.
 The MLA Handwara, Chaudary Muhammad Ramzan also addressed the public gathering and highlighted problems being faced by the people of the area.
 Earlier, Mian Altaf laid foundation stone of ‘Gamma Unit K-10’ coming up at the cost of Rs. 4.46 crore. The unit is being constructed by the Forest Protection Force.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST