Muzaffarabad, Sep 30: Prime Minister of Pakistan administered Kashmir's Chaudhry Abdul Majeed on Sunday said his government had started implementation of a comprehensive plan to develop the state capital as a model city.
 “I am not a prime minister who makes tall claims. I will ensure one hundred per cent implementation of whatever I announce and shortly people will see for themselves winsome changes on the ground,” he said addressing a gathering of traders in Madina Market, PaK capital’s commercial hub.
“I am least bothered by the negative propaganda campaign and instead will religiously fulfil my commitment to develop Muzaffarabad as the most beautiful and model capital,” he added.
Before reaching the market, where traders showered flower petals on him amid pro-government chants by ruling Peoples Party activists, the prime minister laid foundation stone of four uplift schemes under the Muzaffarabad City Project (MCDP).
These included Saheli Sarkar Bridge costing Rs 356 million, greater water supply scheme (Rs 1350 million), sewerage line project (Rs 2450 million) and Tariqabad bypass (Rs 442 million).
For quite some time, tempers are running high in the PaK capital with majority of residents and leaders believing that the PaK government is not fair towards the development of the town which was ravaged by the October 2005 earthquake.
Referring to the very anger, Majeed maintained that previously many “self styled champions” of Muzaffarabad’s rights remained as prime ministers “but, practically, none initiated any project, seriously, for the quake-affected capital.
“Now they are politicking in the name of Muzaffarabad... I will not allow them to do so and hope people will also expose them according to the factual position,” he said.
He recalled that when the earthquake had struck he had raised a strong voice against relocation of capital from Muzaffarabad as an opposition lawmaker.
“Where were the so called protagonists of Muzaffarabad’s rights at that time?”
He said he had personally witnessed the devastation on the mini doomsday in 2005 and within one year of his rule he had initiated more than 40 projects in Muzaffarabad, some of which were nearing completion.
Construction of Kohala-Muzaffarabad expressway at a cost of Rs 2.5 billion was among those projects, he said.
He said he would ensure completion of all schemes under MCDP within the stipulated period to provide relief to the residents and compensate their deprivations of the past.
Next year, a women’s university would also be established in Muzaffarabad, he declared.
The prime minister pointed out that the government had paid compensation to the people affected by development projects and would not tolerate any obstacles on their part to commencement of construction work.
“People should themselves take such elements to task who create troubles in initiation of the projects of public interest.”
In a reference to the concerns of people regarding Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP), he said Pakistan was the destination and centre of hopes of the Kashmiri people and therefore they should develop spirit of sacrifice.
In this regard, he cited the “sacrifice of people of Mirpur for the second time for extension of Mangla dam.”
 The NJHP, he said, not only guaranteed prosperity of Pakistan but was also in the interest of PaK in general and Muzaffarabad in particular.
“I am ready to bring this project on the floor of the assembly (for discussion) in accordance with the public demand,” he announced.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 1 Oct 2012 00:00:00 IST