Prosperous AJK will strengthen Pakistan, says minister.

MUZAFFARABAD -- Treasury members in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly continued to praise their government on the second consecutive day on Tuesday for presenting a budget 'par excellence' in addition to sharing their thoughts about betterment in different sectors.

The session, which lacked lustre in the absence of opposition, was presided over by deputy speaker Chaudhry Riaz Gujjar.

'I want to draw attention of the federal government, particularly Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his adviser Qamar Zaman Kaira that a prosperous Azad Kashmir will eventually strengthen Pakistan,' said minister for elementary and secondary education Deevan Ali Chughtai in his first speech of the day.

He vowed that the government would establish a 'state of the art' teachers training academy and added that funds would also be allocated for provision of free books to primary students.

Treasury members praise govt for presenting 'good budget'

'Allah willing, after five years the state will provide not only books but also uniforms to students from nursery to intermediate level,' he claimed, adding, the government would also meet all basic needs of educational institutions, mainly toilets and labs.

Mr Chugtai, who is also minister for vocational and technical training authority, informed the house that the government had focused on skill development to open new windows of opportunity for the skilled youth at home and abroad.

He said while Rs20 million had been spared for the feasibility study of a 'skilled university', the government planned to...