Senate Body on KANA briefed on Ministry's activities
By Asim Hussain

ISLAMABAD—Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Friday gave a comprehensive briefing to the Committee regarding functions, organization and scope of activities of Ministry.
Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas met under the chairmanship of Pir Muhammad Aslam Bodla, MNA in the Parliament House on Friday. The Additional Secretary, Kashmir Affairs and Northern areas (KANA) gave a comprehensive briefing to the Committee regarding functions, organization and scope of activities of Ministry.
He informed the Committee that under rules of Business of Government of Pakistan 1973, KANA has been assigned the functions of policy formation, administration and development of northern areas, administration of jammu and Kashmir state property in Pakistan, to maintain a close liaison as well as relief and rehabilitation work and provision of civil supplies to the Northern Areas.
He apprised that Ministry had a limited role for coordination between the Pakistan and AJK government and does not get involve itself in planning and monitoring process of development schemes of AJK. Responding to the observations of the Committee regarding allocations of funds to AJ&K Government, Additional Secretary informed the Committee that the Pakistan Government does not provide any financial assistance to AJK Government, however Govt of Pakistan provides loans to AJK for PSDP.
The Committee decided to recommend to the AJ&K Council to allocate necessary funds for commissioning of an international airport and building of tourism related infrastructure in AJ&K Committee was of the view that AJ&K had an immense tourism potential and if it is sagaciously exploited, it could generate maximum revenue for the AJK as well as create employment opportunities for the local people.