He was chairing a meeting to review progress on various issues regarding Mangla Dam Raising Project.
The meeting was attended by President AJK, Zulqarnian Khan, PM AJK, Attique Ahmad Khan, Barrister Sultan Mahmood, Opposition leader AJK, Ch. Majeed, Secretary Kashmir Affairs Muhammad Javed Malik,Secretary Water and Power, Chairman WAPDA, Commissioner Mangla Dam and others.
The Minister said that the Finance Minister Dr Hafeez Sheikh has been requested for releasing Rs 4.5 billion for the Project and it would be obligation of Federal Minister, AJK Government and WAPDA to ensure Finance Division that impounding would be started by July or August.
The federal minister said that Finance Division would release the Rs4.5 billion for the Mangla Dam Raising Project and compensation soon.
The Minister was briefed regarding progress on Mangla Dam raising compensation to affected people and progress on the development work. The chair was informed that one new city is being constructed for the relocation of the victims and 1700 houses are about to be completed out of 4096.
The Minister was informed that the work is in progress regarding infrastructure, water supply, sewerage, roads and bridges in the area and will be completed soon. The Minister stressed for expediting the work.
The Federal Minister was also informed that the possession of plots to the victims would be given soon and impounding in the dam would be possible by July or August.
The Federal Minister said that Mangla Dam upraising project is of national importance and impounding would start by August, July and victims would be settled simultaneously and Kashmir leadership would be involved in this regard.
The Federal Minister said that AJK Government, the Minister himself, President AJK, Barrister Sultan Mahmood, Ch. Majeed and WAPDA would ensure that the water would be released in the Dam by December this year.