Islamabad: (Parliament Times) Sardar Masood Khan, President Azad Jammu and Kashmir, met Mr. Asad Umar, Federal Minister for Finance, and thanked him for the timely releases of finances to Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The President also briefed the Minister about the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and discussed modalities for the expedited release of the Revolving Fund for the LoC Victims which was announced last year during a joint visit to the LoC by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Chief of Army Staff and Prime Minister of AJK.
The Finance Minister assured the President of the the Federal Government’s full support to the development of the financial sector of AJK and completion of ongoing development projects.
The Finance Minister said that development of the tourism sector was a priority for the Federal Government and therefore it would pay special attention to the development of tourism in AJK on an organised basis. He recalled the mesmerizing, pristine beauty of the Neelum Valley that he had visited nearly two years ago.
The Finance Minister said that the recent successful visit of the Prime Minister to China was landmark in Pakistan-China relations which will pave the way for comprehensive social development in Pakistan, in addition to the accelerated economic growth and development.
Sardar Masood Khan congratulated the Finance Minister on the impressive outcomes of the China visit, as well as reiteration of strong commitment by both sides to invest their political will, energy and time for the completion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the signature flagship megaproject of the Belt and Road Initiative.
The President also briefed the Minister about the four projects that have been included in the CPEC. These included Karot Hydropower project (720 MW), Kohala Hydropower Project (1124 MW), an Industrial Zone in Mirpur and an Expressway from Mansehra to Mirpur. The President underlined the need for the inclusion of the Expressway project in the upcoming budgetary cycle under CPEC.
