AJK cabinet orders review of education package

Muzzaffarabad: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) cabinet convened on Thursday to initiate a review of the education package endorsed by the previous administration, aiming to identify and implement necessary modifications. This decision was made during the inaugural gathering of the newly formed cabinet, led by Prime Minister Iftikhar Gillani.

The committee entrusted with this task consists of Forest Minister Waqar Ahmed Noor, Higher Education Minister Chaudhry Azhar Sadiq, and Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Sardar Umair Naeem.

Prior to the meeting, Education Secretary Qazi Inayat provided an overview of Education Package 2026 and the teacher recruitment policy to the cabinet members. Additionally, Sardar Adnan Khurshid, who serves as the Prime Minister's secretary and concurrently holds the additional charge of secretary for industries and commerce, briefed the cabinet on the Ease of Doing Business Act 2026.

In his address to the assembly, Prime Minister Gillani emphasized that the cabinet constitutes the highest decision-making body, whose decisions have a direct impact on the lives of ordinary citizens. He called for a shift in governance attitudes, asserting that the focus should be on fostering an environment conducive to the people's confidence restoration, rather than merely allocating more financial resources.

Gillani stressed the importance of collaboration between the cabinet and the bureaucracy to achieve this objective.

Furthermore, the prime minister directed all departments to revise their regulations in line with the third-party recruitment law, insisting that appointments should be made strictly based on merit and competence. He also ordered the establishment of a complaints desk within the Prime Minister's Office until a proposed complaints portal becomes operational.

Gillani underscored the significance of enhancing governance through a change in mindset and approach, asserting that anyone who fails to cooperate with the cabinet cannot remain part of the team.

The cabinet expressed its support for the joint Makkah defence agreement, recognizing it as a significant development for unity and cooperation within the Muslim world. They praised the leadership of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye for their role in reaching this agreement. The cabinet also condemned a reported attempt to launch a drone attack near Makkah's sacred precincts and extended solidarity to the Saudi leadership and populace, reaffirming their commitment to safeguarding the sanctity and security of the Holy Mosques.

Regarding the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir, the cabinet expressed deep concern over the worsening human rights conditions and called for an end to violations of fundamental human rights and restrictions on civil liberties. They appealed to the international community, the United Nations, and international human rights organizations to acknowledge the plight of the Kashmiri people and actively contribute to protecting their rights and facilitating a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir dispute.