Newly elected Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore on Monday spelled out his government agenda after being elected as the new Leader of the House.

In his first address to the Legislative Assembly as Leader of the House, he announced several administrative reforms, including capping the number of secretaries at 20

The positions of special and senior secretaries will be abolished, he said, adding that technical positions in the Education Department will be merged and new posts will be filled under third-party arrangements.

Referring to the ousted prime minister, Rathore said it was the first time that a departing prime minister personally welcomed the incoming prime minister before leaving office.

He acknowledged that some decisions during the previous tenure had been incorrect and that delays had occurred in resolving certain issues.

“As prime minister, I now pledge that there will be no delays from my pen,” he said.

Rathore also addressed misconceptions about his background, stating that people often think he comes from a privileged family.

“This is not true. My father built his only house with the help of friends, and I sold it to cover my election expenses,” he explained.

The newly elected prime minister highlighted the importance of the Action Committee, saying it is a reality whose demands must be acknowledged, and added that some of their demands are valid and will be addressed.

He also announced limiting secretaries to a single official vehicle and said that all additional government vehicles will be pooled under a central transport system.

He promised equal employment opportunities for women in government jobs, and said Grade One employees will receive an additional month’s salary.

Earlier, the AJK Legislative Assembly on Monday passed a no-confidence motion against prime minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq.

The motion was approved with 36 members of the assembly voting in favour and two against.