Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore has announced land ownership rights for more than 1,000 families displaced due to shelling along the Line of Control (LoC), marking a significant step toward addressing long-standing resettlement issues.
The affected families, originally from districts such as Bhimber and Kotli, had been forced to leave their homes following cross-border shelling in 1998. Since 2006, they had been living on unoccupied state land in the Janyal area near Mirpur without formal ownership rights.
During a ceremony held to formalize the decision, the prime minister acknowledged the hardships faced by these families and officially granted them ownership of the land they had been residing on for years. He described the move as a step toward ensuring dignity, stability, and security for displaced communities.
In addition to land ownership, the AJK government announced the establishment of a dispensary in the area to improve access to basic healthcare services for residents.
The prime minister also referred to similar measures taken in the past, noting that earlier governments had granted land rights to displaced communities in other areas, setting a precedent for such initiatives.
Furthermore, Rathore announced additional development plans in Kharri Sharif, including granting it tehsil status, upgrading local police facilities, and improving educational infrastructure such as a girls’ degree college.
The initiative reflects the government’s broader efforts to support displaced populations, enhance living conditions, and promote socio-economic development in the region.
