Ganderbal, Sept 12: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Ganderbal constituency, Bashir Ahmad Mir on Thursday welcomed the release of Awami Ittehad Party president Engineer Rashid, but shifted focus towards pressing issues in his own district.
Speaking to reporters here, Mir said while the release of Er Rashid is a positive step, his primary concern remains the welfare of Ganderbal and its people. He urged the central government to release thousands of J&K prisoners lodged outside UT jails.
Mir highlighted the specific challenges facing the people of Ganderbal, particularly the deprivation of local youths who depend on sand and gravel extraction from the Sindh Nallah for their livelihoods.
“Thousands of young people earn their livelihoods by extracting sand and gravel, but they have been deprived of the right to operate under SRO 105. This issue needs immediate attention,” he said.
The candidate also pointed to the deteriorating condition of hospitals and the poor state of the education system in the district, saying, “My main focus is also on the improvement of the healthcare sector in the district.”
Bashir said there is an untapped potential in Ganderbal’s tourism sector. He cited neglected areas like Sonamarg, Manasbal and Tullamulla, which he believes could be developed to boost the local economy. “No one has ever paid attention to the tourism sector here. I want to explore it and bring it to the forefront,” he said.
The PDP candidate appealed to the people of Ganderbal to support him in the upcoming elections, promising that, if elected, he would work tirelessly for their welfare.
