SRINAGAR: On Tuesday afternoon, a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah began in Pahalgam, Anantnag district. This is the first time the cabinet has convened in Pahalgam, outside the traditional venues of the Civil Secretariat or the Chief Minister’s residence in Jammu or Srinagar.
As per media reports, the meeting is intended to send a message of stability following the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the death of 26 civilians, including 25 tourists. The incident led to a decline in tourist activity in the Valley.
Key issues on the agenda include the revival of tourism and preparations for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra. Officials said that the meeting’s location and timing are significant in the current context, as they demonstrate the government’s intent to ensure public confidence and uphold routine administrative functions in all parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The decision to hold the meeting in Pahalgam follows remarks made by the Chief Minister at the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting, where he urged the central government to direct public sector units to hold meetings in Kashmir and to consider convening parliamentary committee meetings in the region.
According to officials, the government believes such steps can contribute to restoring public confidence, encouraging economic activity, and supporting the tourism sector, which has seen a decline since the April incident. (With KNO Inputs)
