In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, public concerns over inflation, electricity bills, administrative reforms and basic civic facilities led to an agreement between the government and the Joint Awami Action Committee. The purpose of that agreement was to resolve public issues in a phased, constitutional and lawful manner.

Following the agreement, the government has made practical progress on several points, provided financial relief, introduced administrative reforms and moved multiple development projects into approval, feasibility, PC-I, tendering and federal forum stages.

Despite this visible progress, the JAAC leadership’s strike call for June 9, 2026 has raised serious questions in AJK’s political and social environment. When demands are being implemented, public relief has been provided and development projects worth billions of rupees are moving forward, continued protest and confrontation now appear less like a struggle for public rights and more like an attempt to pursue personal agendas, preserve political relevance and build pressure before elections.

At the government level, 177 FIRs have already been withdrawn, while more than Rs118 million has been paid in compensation to the families of the deceased and injured. Similarly, the 5KW tariff adjustment has been implemented, surcharges have been waived and electricity arrears have been divided into 36 instalments. Electricity arrears related to the Mangla Dam project have also been waived, while the Sehat Card facility has been extended to Kashmiri citizens.

Under administrative reforms, the number of departments has been reduced to 22 and the cabinet size has been brought down to 20 ministers. The open merit policy has also been implemented in admissions and government........

© Daily Times