MUZAFFARABAD: Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, on Sunday laid the foundation stone of a new 132/11 KV grid station in Samahni at an estimated cost of Rs1 billion, aiming to address longstanding electricity issues faced by residents living near the Line of Control (LoC).
During his visit to the Samahni area of Bhimber district, the premier also inaugurated the 8.2-kilometre Jandala-Peer Gali road project completed at a cost of Rs680 million and welcomed two former PML-N leaders into the Pakistan Peoples Party.
Samahni, located along the LoC, gained international attention in February 2019 when the Pakistan Air Force shot down an Indian aircraft in the region and captured pilot Abhinandan Varthaman.
The prime minister was accompanied by Chaudhry Mohammad Yasin, former AJK president Haji Mohammad Yaqoob Khan, former prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, and Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Ali Shan Soni, among other cabinet members.
Chief Engineer Electricity (South) Mohammad Nazir Mughal briefed the premier on the project, stating that the new grid station would include six feeders covering Samahni, Choki, Jandala, Sona Bazaar, Bandala and Puna, along with a 24-kilometre double-circuit transmission line from Islamgarh to Samahni.
Spread over 32 kanals, the project is expected to benefit around 145,000 residents by ensuring electricity supply at standard voltage levels. Officials noted that residents of Samahni tehsil had long suffered from low voltage issues, often receiving less than 90 volts, resulting in inadequate power supply.
The premier directed relevant authorities to ensure quality work, speedy execution, and timely completion of ongoing development projects.
Later, while addressing a public gathering in Tander, PM Rathore welcomed former PML-N leaders retired Major Khizarur Rehman and Raja Mohammad Ayub into the PPP along with their supporters.
Speaking on the occasion, Rathore described the PPP as a “party of martyrs” that provided opportunities for ordinary workers to rise to important political positions. He claimed his government had restored public confidence by resolving issues through democratic institutions rather than protests and asserted that the PPP’s election campaign was already nearing completion due to its governance performance.
Story by Tariq Naqash
