Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday announced lifting of the ban on recruitment in central government service in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The ban imposed by the Centre will not apply to Jammu and Kashmir since youth in the state are facing hardships in getting jobs," he said addressing a rally in Jammu.

At the same time, Singh said, the Centre would work "shoulder to shoulder" with the state government to promote a reconstruction plan to provide additional employment in the coming four to five years.