“Atrocities taking place in IOK needs global attention & creating awareness at global level in this regard is our national duty; countless projects in various sectors have been initiated throughout AJK; Mansehra-Muzaffarabad-Mirpur expressway will help link almost all the divisions of AJK to the main artery of the CPEC route; present government has taken initiatives to promote a culture of merit based inductions by introducing transparency in the PSC”
Islamabad: (Parliament Times) President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan has said that introducing and executing diverse development projects in AJK has always been the priority of the present government.
He expressed these views during a call on meeting by the Members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs at President House, Muzaffarabad.
The President discussed the recent situation in IOK, human right violations by Indian occupation forces were discussed in detail. Matters related to AJK government, ongoing developmental work, political and administrative issues were also brought in to discussion.
The President said that the atrocities taking place in IOK needs global attention and creating this awareness is our national duty. This responsibility not only lies with the committee but it is the responsibility of all Kashmiris and Pakistanis, said President Masood Khan.
President AJK showed his satisfaction over the united stance of the political parties on the issue of Kashmir. He said, since 70 decades, Pakistan has kept the issue of Kashmir alive at all international forums and never compromised on the right to self-determination of the people of Kashmir.
We must strategically leverage the support of the Kashmiri and Pakistani diaspora in order to raise the profile of the Kashmir dispute. Our diaspora community are now economically and politically successful in their adopted countries; and this will help give us gain access to the parliaments and civil societies of these countries, thereby, opening a new platform for the Kashmir issue, said the President.
Speaking on the development projects initiated in AJK, the President said that countless projects in various sectors have been initiated throughout AJK. He said that AJK has massive potential for hydro-power projects and currently the Neelum-Jehlum and Kohala Hydro Power Plants are nearing completion. By 2025, Azad Kashmir will be able to generate around 20000 MW of electricity which will exceed our requirement; this excess will be sent to the National Electricity Grid and will in turn contribute to the economy of Pakistan.
President Masood Khan said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor is a game changer not only for Pakistan but for Azad Kashmir. In the coming years AJK will experience an unprecedented economic and industrial growth due to CPEC. Special attention will be given to infrastructure and road development. Mansehra-Muzaffarabad-Mirpur expressway will help link almost all the divisions of AJK to the main artery of the CPEC route and the newly proposed Mirpur Industrial Zone.
AJK Government has taken initiatives to promote a culture of merit based inductions by introducing transparency in the Public Service Commission, said the President. Similarly, National Testing Service has been introduced for induction purposes in jobs and admissions in Universities, said President Masood Khan.