AJK encourages overseas Kashmiris to invest in the State

MIRPUR (AJK): Inviting Pakistani and Kashmiri expatriates to launch investment in trade and tourism sectors in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, AJK President Sardar Masood Khan has said that the overseas Kashmiri community has always proved to an invaluable asset for the country as they have actively leveraged their strengths in advocating the Kashmir issue and have brought pride to the country through their active engagement in the political and social fabric of their adopted countries.

The President made these comments while interacting with a 12-member delegation of overseas Kashmiris from Europe on Monday.

The participants hailing from various walks expressed their keen interest in investing in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, especially in the real-estate sector, infrastructure development, agriculture, livestock and power production projects.

They said that the overseas community needs encouragement to come and invest here.

They requested that one-window services may be provided and a similar conducive environment is provided to them to help boost their confidence.

The delegation informed the President that overseas businessmen have to be encouraged by creating opportunities to help them accommodate in local economic environment.

President Azad Kashmir thanked the overseas delegation for the passion and interest they displayed in investing in Pakistan and Kashmir.

He said that being a great asset for our nation, the facilitation of the overseas community has always been the top priority of the current AJK Government.

He said issues discussed impeding investments in AJK are under consideration and every effort will be made to help facilitate investors.

The President informed that under the current Government, both the AJK Board of Investment and the Overseas Commission are being made more active in order to directly cater to the needs of the overseas Kashmiris.

He said that the young generation of overseas Kashmiris will be given a chance to explore investment opportunities in incubation centers and startup centers in public sector universities of AJK in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur.

President Masood said that diversified investment opportunities will be explored especially in the tourism sector, extraction industry and the software houses.

The President also paid tribute to the Pakistani-Kashmiri community for raising their voices against the grave human rights violations taking place in Indian Occupied Kashmir.