Overseas Kashmiris ‘willing to invest in country’

Businessman Raja Manawar Khan says peace, security are vital to motivate them to invest

MUZAFFARABAD: The British citizens of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) are ready to invest in the tourism and energy sectors of the country, claimed overseas businessman Raja Manawar Khan while addressing a group of senior journalists on Tuesday.

Khan had migrated to the United Kingdom (UK) in the 1970s at the age of 10 with his family. After completing his studies Khan got into the hoteling business and then later shifted into real estate.

“Whatever we have earned is for our country and we want to invest in our home. Now it is up to the government to provide a conducive atmosphere to the overseas business community,” Khan added.

Sharing his over 40-year business experience, Khan said that Pakistan and AJK had a lot of potential in the tourism and energy sectors. If this potential is properly utilised the investors from across the globe and the UK will prefer to invest in Pakistan, he claimed.

“I have been told by the officials that AJK has identified more than 10,000 MW hydropower projects and that must be tapped without further delay to make the country self-sufficient in energy sector,” Khan added.



When asked how the government of Pakistan and AJK will help in bringing overseas Kashmiris to invest in the country, Khan said that peace and security are vital to motivate them.

“In any investment fiscal security is mandatory which is really good in Pakistan as its banking system is at par with international standards,” Khan added.

He said in any development sector pay back in the first ten years is a good return. He added that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will lay the solid foundation of a strong economical Pakistan which would be the real game changer in the region.

Khan who hails from Charhoi area of district Kotli and has spent more than 46 years in the UK is eager to invest in the tourism sector to provide jobs to the local people.

Khan said Pakistan and AJK citizens in the UK want to remain connected with their roots and traditions of motherland.

“My younger son is 14-year-old living in the UK and I hired a religious scholar here in AJK who teaches him Quran and Urdu online to keep him aligned with his ancestors and national language. This is the spirit and glimpse of love of overseas Pakistanis and Kashmiris with Pakistan,” Khan concluded.