AJK PM vows to keep office accessible to public

Muzaffarabad: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Iftikhar Gillani announced on Monday that his office would remain open to the public, aiming to gather firsthand information on grievances and issues needing attention. Upon returning from Islamabad last week to discuss financial support for his 100-day reform plan, Gillani resumed his official duties at his Muzaffarabad office, meeting government officials and groups of political activists and citizens.

"An effective government must stay connected with the people and understand their problems at first hand," Gillani assured the visitors. He emphasized that resolving public complaints and delivering basic services would remain top priorities for his administration. "Our immediate focus is on initiatives that can make a tangible difference to people's daily lives.

We are identifying priority areas and projects so that available resources are directed towards the needs of ordinary people," he explained. Acknowledging Punjab's success in implementing welfare and service-delivery programs, Gillani invited cooperation, specifically mentioning Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. He appreciated the offer of technical and administrative assistance and expressed openness to learning from their experiences.

The prime minister highlighted that accessibility of public offices was a strength of AJK's governance system, crucial for understanding local issues. He urged visitors to government offices to bring genuine complaints, suggestions, or specific information, ensuring the accessibility served a meaningful purpose. Gillani directed his cabinet members to visit field areas and interact with citizens weekly to gather first-hand insights into their challenges.

He listened attentively as visitors raised concerns about the provision of basic facilities and delays in development projects. Gillani reiterated that development projects would focus on local community needs, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach areas. "Development must respond to the actual needs of local communities. Our objective is to ensure that public resources are used where they can bring the greatest relief to people and make their everyday lives easier," he stated.