Leader of the PML-N and social activist Jahangir Akhtar on Thursday said people of Potohar have a right on the water user charges of the Mangla Dam. According to a press release issued here, he said “we will continue protest unless our half share is accepted and the funds are utilised properly for the development of the areas.”
Speaking to a protest rally held at Sar Soha Shah, Union Council Samot, Kallar Syedan, Jahangir Akhtar said all funds generated through water user charges cannot be provided to Azad Kashmir as river Jhelum is between AJK and Kallar Syedan. Similarly, he said borders of Mangla dam touches Pakistan as well as AJK and that effected people of Mangla upraising belong to both sides of the divide.
Akhtar said that water user charges should be equally distributed as many areas of Kallar Syedan are deprived of facilities like health, education, electricity and roads. People of many villages have to cross into AJK to go to their villages as that is developed area while the areas of Potohar located on the bank of river is underdeveloped. He said that we will soon meet leaders representing the area including Federal Minister Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Parliamentary Secretary Jawaed Ikhlas and MNA Chaudhry Khadim Hussain to apprise them of the problems of masses.
