‘Party to focus on employment, tourism’
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 27: Promising a ‘Khushal Jammu-Kashmir’, former Chief Minister and chairman, Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that he will mainly focus on removing unemployment and developing Tourism Industry in Jammu and Kashmir, if his party comes to power.
Addressing a massive public rally at Pulwama today, Azad said, “DPAP model of governance encompasses equal employment for educated girls as well as boys in my idea of ‘Khushaal Jammu- Kashmir’ which would also guarantee jobs, roads, electricity, mobile connectivity and financial stability. The skilled and unskilled workers will have plenty of opportunities by utilising the full potential of the region,” he added. Click here to watch video
“The focus will be on Tourism to tackle the problem of unemployment. The youngsters should become hoteliers, restaurateurs and other service providers in tourist places. The ‘Ponywala’ should be local, and the labourer should also be local. This will be all-round employment. The youths should not need to go even to another district for employment,” he assured.
“To make world-class tourist destinations, the two main things needed are road connectivity and electricity,” Azad said, adding, “Be it Shadimarg or Gulshanmarg, we will have to make it like Gulmarg so that people come from all over the world. For that, we need two things – electricity supply and road connectivity.”
“For our fruit transportation, Ramban to Banihal stretch has become a problem. This 20-kilometre stretch is almost closed for six months a year due to which our fruit reaches Qazigund and rots there,” he added.
Stressing that DPAP’s manifesto will include double and triple- shifts to revamp the poor infrastructure, Azad said the region will be promoted during fruit seasons for tourism.
Referring to huge potential in Horticulture and Agriculture sectors, Azad said Pulwama will be developed as a major economic centre once DPAP is elected to power in Jammu and Kashmir. He assured people that world class fruit Mandis encompassing all facilities would be established in order to give a boost to the Horticulture sector in Pulwama.
“The Fruit Mandis will have the latest technology, speedy transport system to ferry apple crop to Mandis across the country, loan facilities and extensive support to boost fruit production,” Azad said.
Eulogising his belief in ‘old Kashmir’ which saw all round development 15 years ago when he was Chief Minister, Azad lamented model of ‘new Kashmir’ where people are unhappy due to record unemployment of both boys and girls, poor infrastructure and economic stagnation which has led to poverty in rural Jammu and Kashmir.
Lamenting distribution and use of adulterated pesticides which had devastating impact on fruit growers, Azad cautioned people to remain vigilant and compared the situation with Himachal Pradesh where the government has one remarkable work to curb use of adulterated pesticides or fungicide.
The public meeting was organised by Abdul Qayoom Dar. The DPAP leaders who were present on the occasion include vice-chairman GM Saroori, treasurer- Taj Mohiudin, Zonal president Gulzar Wani, chief spokesperson- Salman Nizami, Provincial general secretary Shafiq Shabnam, Mushtaq Ahmad Khanday, Ayoub Thakur District president Pulwama, District president Shopian, Ghulam Nabi Palpori, Javid Hakim, Showkat Ahmed Dar and others.
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