AJK Plans To Link Leepa Valley With Rest Of The State Through A Tunnel

AJK President Sardar Masood Khan Wednesday revealed that under the spirit to turn top mountainous scenic Leepa valley a most attractive hub of local and foreign tourism and the AJK government has planned to connect Leepa valley with rest of the State through a tunnel under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP).

MIRPUR (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Sep, 2018 ) ,:AJK President Sardar Masood Khan Wednesday revealed that under the spirit to turn top mountainous scenic Leepa valley a most attractive hub of local and foreign tourism and the AJK government has planned to connect Leepa valley with rest of the State through a tunnel under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP).

The President disclosed this while addressing a public gathering at Government Degree College for Girls in Leepa on Wednesday. He said that in the first phase, Rs. 500 million have been allocated for the project. In addition, he added, Rs. 470 million highway from Nelli to Leepa is under construction which will soon be completed.

Dr. Mustafa Bashir, Member AJK Legislative Assembly and Chairman Public Accounts Committee and other local leaders also addressed the gathering.

The President AJK said that Leepa is the land of Ghazis and martyrs who had liberated this beautiful valley from the Maharaja and even today are courageously facing unprovoked shelling and fire by the Indian forces from across the Line of Control.

The President AJK in his address, commended the people of Leepa saying that the brave people of this valley are facing Indian fire from across the Line of Control. Despite these difficulties, they have shown exemplary courage and resilience, he said.

He said that the Government will strive to address the issues faced by the people of Leepa. He said that major problems related to lack of health professionals at Tehsil Headquarter Hospital Leepa will be addressed on priority. He said that soon female medical officers and a gynecologist will also be available at THQ Hospital.

He said that Leepa is one of the most beautiful places and it is imperative to promote tourism here.

He said that our government will also plan to include Leepa in the proposed Tourism Corridor, which will help to make this beautiful valley a tourist destination for the general public.

The President said we must not forget the sacrifices of brothers and sisters living in Indian Occupied Kashmir who are being subjected to unimaginable torture at the hands of the occupying forces. He said that innocent Kashmiris are being killed, illegally incarcerated, blinded by pellet guns and our womenfolk are being dishonored.

The President said that the government will strive to rationalize the appointment of teaching faculty and will prioritize addressing the shortage of teaching staff in remote areas.

Dr Mustafa Bashir while speaking to the gathering, informed that roads linking Leepa Valley to rest of AJK will be constructed. He said mini-hydropower project for Leepa has been approved and soon Leepa will be load-shedding free.

Later, the President Azad Kashmir also visited Nokot and met the affectees of the recent flash floods in the area. The locals apprised the President about the damage caused by the floods and the difficulties faced by the affectees.

While expressing his solidarity with the affectees, President Masood Khan assured that the government would prioritize reconstruction of the damaged homes and also ensured the rehabilitation of the affectees before the onset of winters. He directed the district government to take measures for rehabilitation of the affectees on fast track basis and also explore the possibility of installing an early warning system in flood prone areas.

On this occasion, the President also thanked Pakistan Army for taking timely steps in vacating the population. He said that due to their vigilance, no casualties were reported.