GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL
ALTAF HUSSAIN
MENDHAR JANUARY 20:-Advocate Abdul Rahim Jatt, while representing the concerns and aspirations of the people of the Pir Panjal region, has called upon the present government to take immediate and concrete steps for the establishment of national-level educational and medical institutions, particularly in District Poonch, which continues to face significant developmental challenges.
In a statement issued to the media, Advocate Jatt said that the Pir Panjal region, comprising the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, holds immense strategic importance for the country. Despite its geographical significance and the sacrifices made by its people over the decades, the region remains deprived of adequate higher education and advanced healthcare infrastructure.
He pointed out that District Poonch, despite its vast area and sensitive border location, does not have a single national-level institution. At present, there is no IIT, IIM, AIIMS, or National Law University in the entire Pir Panjal region. Advocate Jatt noted that while other parts of Jammu and Kashmir have benefitted from the establishment of several central institutions, Pir Panjal has remained neglected, leading to a clear imbalance in regional development.
Advocate Abdul Rahim Jatt further stated that the people of the region have endured decades of cross-border shelling, conflict, displacement, and economic disruption, which has severely affected access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. The continued lack of proper roads, universities, medical colleges, and national institutions has forced students and youth to migrate outside the region, causing financial strain on families and depriving the area of its human potential.
Making a respectful yet firm appeal to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, Advocate Jatt urged the central leadership to take personal cognizance of the situation and ensure that Pir Panjal is included in national development planning. He stressed that strengthening educational and medical infrastructure in border regions is essential for inclusive growth and long-term stability.
He emphasized that the people of Pir Panjal are not seeking charity but are demanding their constitutional right to equality, balanced development, and access to quality education and healthcare. He urged the Government of India to initiate immediate and practical measures for establishing universities, a medical college, and a National Law University in District Poonch so that future generations can build a dignified and secure future within their own region.
Advocate Abdul Rahim Jatt concluded by stating that the establishment of national institutions in Pir Panjal would mark a decisive step toward addressing regional disparities and would contribute significantly to the educational, social, and economic empowerment of the border region.