The Independence Day celebration witnessed enthusiastic participation of people from all walks of life across border district Poonch.The main function was held at sports stadium where Minister for horticulture, Seyed Bashrat Ahmed Bukhari unfurled the national flag & took salute at the march past comprising 25 contingents of J&K police , CRPF, JKAP, NCC & school children here amid tight security arrangements.MLA Haveli Shah Mohammad Tantary, MLA Mendhar Javid Ahamad Rana, MLC Dr. Shehnaz Ganai, MLC Yashpal Sharama, MLC Pardeep Sharama , brigade commander A S Pandharkar ex legislator jehngir Hussain Mir, officers of district administration and police beside a large number of locals and school children were present.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister gave a historical background of Indian freedom movement and paid tributes to freedom fighters. He said the leaders of the nation made supreme sacrifices for the freedom of the nation adding that the best tribute to them is to raise and stand up against forces who promote division on the lines of religion, region, cast, colour & creed.
“Our independence is half way till we progress in those fields where we are still lacking and till we become socially and economically sound” he asserted.On the occasion, the Minister enumerated various development initiatives taken during the regime of late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed & now under the leadership Mehbooba Mufti. He said Mughal road is best gift dedicated to the people of Peerpanchal including people of Poonch. “The upcoming projects like tunnels on Zojila & Mughal road from Tatta Pani to Zanzar connecting three regions of the state for all weather will not only ease the people’s miseries but also change the course of development” he added.Basharat Bukhari said visible impact is being felt on the ground with implementation of prime minister package and various central sponsored schemes.
“We are committed to utilize these funds judiciously for effective development and creating employment opportunities for unemployed youth” he said & impressed upon district administration to evolve a transparent system for implementing government welfare programs for better results.The Minister said the hostile situation along the border and LoC is not favourable for the state of J&K. “It is unfortunate that people of this region are begging for bunkers instead of more colleges, hospitals and other public projects” he regretted.He said our focus is on balanced development of all the regions adding that govt will leave no stone unturned for the development of Poonch. He said the tendering process of 132kv transmission line has been completed & the work on the project will start soon.Later the Minister presented certificates and prices to students who presented a scintillating cultural programmes on the occasion. He also presented mementoes to DC Poonch Tariq Ahamad Zargar, SSP Rajiv Panday, executive engineer PMGSY Muneer Hussain for their exemplary work in getting through a major held up road project from the last 12 years on the recommendation of national social development organisation a local