By: Engineer Rohan Chaudhary
Mirpur – A total of 82 houses have been constructed and handed over to deserving families across Azad Kashmir under a major welfare housing project. Following successful completions in Muzaffarabad and Poonch divisions, the project has now been brought to fruition in Mirpur Division as well.
In a dignified ceremony held at a local hotel in Mirpur, keys to newly constructed homes were presented to widows in need. The event was graced by the Minister for Physical Planning, Chaudhry Yasir Sultan, as the chief guest. Notable attendees included District Council Chairman Raja Naveed Akhtar Goga, Mayor of Municipal Corporation Chaudhry Usman Ali Khalid, Deputy Mayor Muhammad Ramzan Chughtai, former Chief Justice of Azad Kashmir Muhammad Azam Khan, Professor Dr. Habib ur Rehman, Professor Chaudhry Zaheer, former MDA Chairman Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif, Chairman Zakat Council Chaudhry Muhammad Siddique, Presidential Advisor Chaudhry Amjad, Mubarak Basmal, and several representatives of civil society.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Chaudhry Yasir Sultan expressed his appreciation for the organizers and lauded their humanitarian efforts. “It is an honor for me to be part of such a noble event. The homes distributed today are not merely structures of bricks and mortar — they are dreams realized for these women. This initiative has provided them with safety, dignity, and a sense of belonging,” he remarked. The minister also extended his congratulations to Chaudhry Akhtar, his team, and the donors, pledging his continued support for future efforts.
The emotional significance of the event was evident as many women, upon receiving the keys, were moved to tears. Several expressed their heartfelt gratitude, stating that receiving a roof over their heads after years of struggle felt like a dream come true.
Chaudhry Muhammad Akhtar, in his address, shared that the project to build homes for 100 deserving widows across Azad Kashmir began one and a half years ago. “Alhamdulillah, 82 homes have been completed and handed over. Additionally, we have now launched food aid distribution for over 2,000 families affected by recent escalations along the Line of Control. Work has also begun to assess damage to homes caused by cross-border firing and shelling,” he said.
He further noted that the organization, with the help of generous donors, has previously constructed over 400 homes in Pakistan and is now planning to build a state-of-the-art 500-bed hospital in Mirpur.
Speakers at the event also paid strong tribute to the Pakistan Armed Forces for their firm and courageous response to recent Indian aggression, commending their efforts in defending the nation’s sovereignty.
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