AJK PM invites investment in region

Azad Kashmir offers plenty of investment opportunities to the businessmen in tourism, mines and minerals, hydel power and other sectors, said Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi. Speaking to the business community at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Saturday, he urged local investors to capitalise on the existing opportunities and promised that his government would fully facilitate them.

He highlighted that promotion of the economy of AJK was key priority of his government and it was also in line with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan. He further informed the participants that a new special economic zone (SEZ) was planned for AJK under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in addition to Mirpur and Bhimber SEZs. He further requested the participants to take benefit of the facilities offered for investment in the region.

"A dedicated authority is being established at AJK to promote the tourism sector of the area and it has already provided 8,000 jobs," he added. Motivating the business community of Islamabad to identify sites for investment in AJK, he said that his government would provide it with all possible facilitation because investment would bring progress and prosperity to the region. He instructed the AJK Board of Investment Chairman Sardar Amjad Jalil to maintain strong liaison with the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry in a bid to facilitate its members for joint ventures and investment in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking on the occasion, AJK Board of Investment Chairman Sardar Amjad Jalil assured the business community of offering all out facilitation in a bid to enable it to take benefit of business and investment opportunities in the region. "This way, traders will be able to play their due role in the economic development and job creation in the region," he said. ICCI President Muhammad Shakeel Munir said that many members of the chamber were keen to establish joint ventures and invest in Azad Kashmir to contribute towards the economic development of the region. In this regard, he requested the government of AJK to offer attractive incentives to the traders.

Founder Group Chairman Mian Akram Farid said that a committee should be formed to promote investment in AJK. According to him, the group should comprise representatives of ICCI, AJK Board of Investment and Mirpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He said that the hospitality sector of AJK had huge potential and the government should focus on its smooth development. AJK Board of Investment Chairman Sardar Amjad Jalil was also present at the occasion.