Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, President, Azad Jammu & Kashmir said that the region has huge potential for JVs and investment in many sectors of its economy including hydropower generation, precious stones, gems & jewellery and tourism and invited the business community of Islamabad to capitalize on these opportunities for achieving lucrative outcomes while AJK government would fully facilitate them. He said that Azad Kashmir has the potential to generate 9000 MW hydroelectricity that would end loadshedding in Pakistan and benefit its businesses & industries and urged that the private sector of Pakistan should exploit this potential by setting up small hydropower projects in the region. He said this while addressing the business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Ministers and Secretaries of Industries & Energy AJK also accompanied him at the occasion.
Barrister Sultan Mehmood said that economic power determined the political power of a country and emphasized that making Pakistan a strong economy should be the paramount priority of the rulers. He said that an economically strong Pakistan would also be a source of strength for the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir. He briefed the business community about his efforts to raise the Kashmir cause at international forums for the right of self-determination of Kashmiri people. He also condemned the conviction of Kashmir leader Yasin Malik by an Indian court.
Speaking at the occasion, Muhammad Shakeel Munir, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that the business community of Islamabad was keen to explore opportunities of business and and investment in Azad Kashmir and stressed that AJK Board of Investment should facilitate them such efforts. He said that the AJK government should offer attractive incentives to ICCI members for JVs and investment in Azad Kashmir that would help the economy of the region to grow fast and create more jobs for youth. He presented a resolution to strongly condemn the conviction of veteran Kashmiri freedom fighter Yasin Malik by an Indian court, which was unanimously passed by the business community.
Khalid Iqbal Malik Chairman Founder Group said that the Pakistani nation was standing with the people of Indian held Kashmir in their just struggle for right of self-determination and urged that India should settle this burning issue in light of the UN Security Council’s resolutions.
Jamshaid Akhtar Sheikh Senior Vice President, Faheem Khan Vice President ICCI, former Presidents ICCI Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi, Mian Akram Farid, Zafar Bakhtawari, Zahid Maqbool, former Senior Vice President Fatma Azim, Ch. Javed Iqbal, Nasira Ali and others also spoke at the occasion and proposed for the constitution of a joint committee comprising representatives of AJK government and ICCI to facilitate the business community in exploring business and investment opportunities in Azad Kashmir.