Islamabad - The fate of over 1,800 employees is hanging in the balance after the government has decided to abolish Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan councils, retaining them as 'advisory bodies'.
According to documents submitted to the National Assembly by Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Barjees Tahir, the prime minister in mid-February this year decided in principle to abolish AJK Council and the GB Council respectively.
He said, however, the future course of action and modalities have not yet been decided. A review committee under the chair of Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Sartaj Azia has held meetings on the modus operandi for the dissolution of the GB Council.
The minister said that minutes received and the draft amendment order for the abolition of GB Council has been submitted for approval of the prime minister and to be placed before the federal cabinet but the decision was pending till date.
He said that the future of the employees had not yet been decided.
There are a total of 1,463 employees working in the AJK Council and its attached departments, while a total of 355 employees are working in the CB Council and its attached departments.
