Jammu Kashmir United Movement President and former MLA Ganderbal, Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar, reacting to the budget session in Jammu and Kashmir, said that the budget should place greater focus on employment generation across the region. He termed unemployment as one of the most pressing and burning issues in Jammu and Kashmir. Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar said that educated youth are facing severe joblessness and expressed hope that the government would introduce measures such as stipends or pocket money for unemployed educated youth. He appealed to the government to expedite the recruitment process and fill vacant posts in various government departments. He also urged the government to enhance the old-age pension and increase financial assistance for specially-abled persons. Additionally, he emphasized that the government should give special attention to employment-generating sectors such as horticulture and tourism to create sustainable livelihood opportunities in Jammu and Kashmir.