The chief minister led a high-level meeting in Gulmarg to evaluate the operations of various departments, reviewing emergency preparedness, tourist safety, sports and adventure tourism, mobile connectivity, and other sectors such as health and rural development.
A government spokesperson indicated that the preparedness for upcoming religious events was thoroughly discussed. Abdullah highlighted that events like Mela Kheer Bhawani, Eid, Muharram, and the Amarnath Yatra would bring unique challenges this year.
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“From a security and logistical perspective, we must guarantee the Yatra proceeds seamlessly. I am confident that with your expertise, all essential arrangements will be in place,” the chief minister remarked in the meeting.
The meeting included council members, all administrative secretaries, the divisional commissioner of Kashmir, the deputy commissioner of Baramulla, senior police officials, and heads of various departments.
Quoting an Urdu couplet “Dil na-umeed to nahi, nakaam hi to hai; Lambi haigham ki shaam, magar shaam hi to hai (Just because my heart is helpless, it is not hopeless; the grief-filled evening is long, but it’s still just an evening),” Abdullah emphasized the need for optimism in challenging times.
“These lines, which I also referenced during the recent NITI Aayog meeting, remind us that hope must endure even in difficult periods. What has occurred recently marks one of the toughest times we’ve faced in years, but we have overcome worse situations over the last four decades — and have always found ways to recover,” he stated.
The day prior, Abdullah convened a meeting of his council of ministers in Pahalgam, explaining that consecutive meetings at tourist locations like Pahalgam and Gulmarg aim to build public confidence and encourage visits to Kashmir.
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“These gatherings are not merely symbolic. They are part of a broader initiative to restore normalcy and rebuild trust,” he mentioned.
Abdullah pointed out that this meeting was the first such administrative assembly to take place outside the secretariats in Jammu and Srinagar.
“During my previous term, we took the cabinet to remote areas, but high-level departmental reviews remained limited to the capitals. This meeting here symbolizes a shift away from the recent unfortunate events,” he added.
Referring to his participation in a recent NITI Aayog meeting presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Abdullah urged the Prime Minister and other ministers to consider holding central PSU board meetings and conferences in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the Valley during the summer when many seek relief from the heat.
“Several parliamentary committee meetings that were planned in the Valley were canceled following April 22. I have requested the Centre to coordinate with the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats to reschedule those meetings. Some ministers have already committed to this effort,” he shared.
Afterward, the chief minister met with delegations from various trade associations in Gulmarg and engaged with visiting tourists.
