AJK government begins phased restoration of internet services

The Azad Jammu & Kashmir Home Department on Monday announced it has begun a phased restoration of internet services in the region, following a pledge from the newly-elected prime minister.

According to a notification, internet services have been fully restored in the Neelum and Haveli Kahuta districts. DSL service has been reinstated in Mirpur and Bhimber.

In Jhelum Valley, Bagh, Dhirkot, and Kotli, DSL service has been restored on a limited basis for educational institutions and banks, which are required to submit an affidavit guaranteeing the connection will not be used against national security.

However, internet services will remain suspended in the Rawalakot and Sudhanoti districts of the Poonch Division.

In a meeting on Sunday in Lahore, the PML-N leadership stressed the need for the “immediate resolution” of issues faced by the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting took place against a backdrop of recent protests and unrest in the region.

A day earlier, AJK Prime Minister Iftikhar Gillani had assured the business community and students that his government would restore internet services and remove restrictions on road links with Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within days. He also expressed concern over the situation in Rawalakot, pledging to bring it under control.

AJK has recently been affected by protests staged by the now-proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee, which had called for a boycott of the recent elections over its demand to abolish 12 assembly seats reserved for families displaced from occupied Kashmir. The protests were marred by violence and led to internet disruptions, prompting elections to be held in phases due to security concerns.

PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Azad Jammu & Kashmir's newly-elected Prime Minister, Iftikhar Gilani, in Lahore. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and AJK Legislative Assembly Speaker Tariq Farooq also attended the meeting.

During the meeting, Nawaz Sharif presented a 100-day reform plan for AJK, instructing the new premier to focus on improving health, education, sanitation, and infrastructure. He emphasised that development should reach remote areas and that promises made during the election campaign must be fulfilled.

Nawaz Sharif also called for the creation of new education, skill, and employment opportunities for the youth. He stated that the reform program should include measures that directly benefit ordinary citizens, and that progress should be regularly monitored.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assured the AJK government of the federal government's full support, stating that AJK's development is a priority. He affirmed that the federal government would provide all possible resources for development projects and public welfare initiatives in the region.