The Federal Minister For Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Affairs, Major Tahir Iqbal (Retd) here on Monday administered oath to the newly appointed six advisors in a special session of Northern Areas Legislative Council.
Under the special efforts of the Major Tahir Iqbal (R), who is also the Chief Executive of the Northern Areas, this is for the first time the oath taking ceremony of the advisors was held here which used to be held in Islamabad.
The members who were appointed as advisors include: Haji Abdul Quddos, Diamer District, Mohammad Ibarhim Sanai, Ghanche district, Noor-ul-Ain Ghizer district, Cap. Sikandar Ali, Skardu district, Abdul Hamid, Astore district and Mirza Hussain, Gilgit district.
The Minister after administering the oath also presided over the first session of the Northern Areas Cabinet. In his remarks, the Chief Executive Northern Areas congratulated the newly appointed advisors and called upon them to judiciously follow the rules and work for the betterment of the area and welfare of the people.
He assured them his complete support and co-operation to achieve the objective and urged them to taken other members of the Legislative Council along in the execution of different welfare and development projects in the area.
He announced to undertake visit of NAs twice in a month to personally monitor the performance of the cabinet members and progress of the people welfare and development projects.
He called upon the members of Northern Areas Cabinet to focus on health, education, agro forestry projects for welfare of the people in the area.
Major Tahir Iqbal (Retd) said he would visit here on July 6 and also attend the budget session of Northern Areas Legislative Council.
He said that portfolios for the newly appointed advisors would be announced soon.
Earlier, a group of women wing of Pakistan Muslim League (PML) called on the Minister and appraised him of the problems being faced by the women in the area.
The minister assured to solve their problems, as the government wanted the socio- economic empowerment of the women of the area. He also lauded the role of PML women in "Peace Jirga" for maintaining peace in the area.
Earlier, the Speaker Northern Areas Legislative Council, Malik Mohammad Miskeen who presided over the special oath taking ceremony asked the newly appointed advisors to work for the progress and prosperity of the country and hoped that they would do their best for the uplift of the area.