Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday assured Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gilani of the federal government’s full cooperation for the welfare and well-being of the people of the region. The assurance was given during the two leaders’ first meeting in Islamabad since Gilani was elected AJK prime minister. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Gilani called on the premier at the PM House. Read: AJK’s PML-N led government forms eight-member cabinet “Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Syed Iftikhar Ali Gilani on assuming the office of the prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and expressed his best wishes for his tenure,” the statement said. The two sides discussed matters relating to peace and development in AJK, as well as ongoing welfare projects in the region, it added. “The federal government will continue to take all possible measures for the development and prosperity of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir,” the prime minister reaffirmed. وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف سے آزاد جموں و کشمیر کے نو منتخب وزیراعظم سید افتخار علی گیلانی نے اسلام آباد میں ملاقات کی۔ ملاقات میں آزاد جموں و کشمیر کے امن، ترقی اور خطے میں جاری فلاحی منصوبوں پر تفصیلی تبادلہ خیال کیا گیا۔ وزیراعظم نے سید افتخار علی گیلانی کو وزیراعظم آزاد جموں و… pic.twitter.com/M4ZTvr6b8Y — PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) September 9, 2026 Gilani thanked PM Shehbaz for his support and expressed his resolve to utilise all his capabilities for the development of the region and the welfare of its people. The AJK elections were held in three phases under a revised schedule announced by AJK Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal on July 21. The first phase covered all 13 constituencies in Mirpur Division, while polling in Muzaffarabad Division and the 12 refugee constituencies was held on Aug 2. The third phase, covering Poonch (Rawalakot) Division, was held on Aug 10. The PML-N emerged as the largest parliamentary force in the AJK Legislative Assembly with 25 seats, followed by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) with 12. Also Read: Barrister Iftikhar Gillani takes oath as 17th AJK prime minister PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif nominated Gilani for the AJK prime minister’s office. A qualified lawyer who holds a barrister’s degree from Britain, Gilani was subsequently sworn in as prime minister in the 53-member AJK Legislative Assembly. Following the inclusion of reserved seats, the PML-N emerged as the dominant parliamentary force, with 31 of its members taking the oath. One member of the Awami Dast-o-Bazu also took the oath, along with 14 PPP members.