MIRPUR (February 21 2010): On the special directives of the newly-elected AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider, Muslim Conference government has principally decided to ink a broad-based phased plan for the uplift of socio-economic sector through the promotion of the trade and tourism sectors in Azad Jammu Kashmir. The plan primarily involves the promotion of adventure tourism in Azad Jammu Kashmir, official sources said.

The sources told APP here on Saturday that to materialise the idea of making AJK a most attractive hub of prospective tourism activities in South Asia, an international tourism conference is proposed to be organised in Mirpur in the near future. Various world fame tourism organisations will be invited to attend the scheduled global moot on tourism.

The sources continued while referring to the incumbent government's resolve to ameliorate the life style of common man and to accelerate the pace of construction work on the ongoing development projects in the liberated area, that the government has directed the concerned machinery to identify the problems of the common man coupled with the healthy proposal for their rapid solution. The sources revealed that to promote the technical education in AJK, a Technical Education Board would also be set up in the near future. The government has also directed the state-controlled Azad Jammu Kashmir Logging & Sawmills Corporation to set up Artisan Schools at Mirpur and Muzaffarabad for producing the skilled man-power related to the wooden Industry.

The sources revealed that Chambers of Commerce & Industry will be set up in all rest of the districts of Azad Jammu Kashmir for the sake of accelerating the trade and commerce activities across Azad area. The AJK government officials to accelerate the work for the execution of the projects like Export Processing Zone, Industrial Estates and the proposed Mirpur International Airport at Mirpur, the major industrial and business hub in AJK.

The AJK government has also decided in principal to invite overseas Kashmiris in various development and educational activities besides the business and industrial sector. An Overseas Kashmiris Cell is also being set up soon at the Prime Minister Secretariat in Muzaffarabad for maintaining constant liaison with them to provide them all required information related to the development activities for ensuring their maximum participation in all spheres of life, the sources said.

In order to promote the sports activities including first class cricket in the area, the AJK government has already decided to set up Kashmir Cricket Board for promoting the first class cricket in AJK where a world-standard Mirpur Cricket Stadium is already available in the model city of Mirpur.

The sources continued that the government was determined to turn Mirpur into a most attractive and model city of international repute through the uplift of tourism sector in the area where a most conducive and peaceful atmosphere was available for the purpose.

To materialise this dream into a reality, the government intended to hold an international investment conference in Mirpur soon which, the sources added, would indeed help in to promote the foreign investment in the trade and industrial sector in the area. Acceleration of business and economic activities in the area may lead to the overall socio-economic uplift and to raise the living style of the common man in AJK, the sources said while referring to the priorities of the government.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2010