LAHORE: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan met former prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif at his residence in Jati Umra, Lahore, on Friday.
During the meeting, matters related to the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, evolving international scenario and issues of national importance and ongoing development and economic initiatives and projects in AJK came under discussed.
President Masood Khan briefed the former prime minister about surge in Indian atrocities in Held Kashmir. He said that scores of civilians and soldiers in Azad Kashmir along the LOC were being killed by Indian firing. He added that it was the resolve of the Kashmiris on both sides of the LOC to continue to strive for the realisation of their right to self-determination and align their destiny with Pakistan.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, said that the Kashmir issue must be resolved in accordance with the wishes of the people and added that human rights violations must come to an end. He said that Pakistan and India must initiate a diplomatic and political process to resolve the issue of Kashmir and the United Nations must play its role in this regard.
The AJK president thanked the former premier for his full support to Azad Kashmir’s economic development and informed him about various development projects that were being planned and implemented with speed in AJK.
Special attention, he said, was being given to building a modern road network, generating electricity, tourism industry, agriculture, education and health. He said that with the constructive efforts of the government of Pakistan, AJK has been formally made part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. “This will bring in huge investment opportunities for local and international investors.”
Highlighting the projects under the auspices of CPEC, the president said that a special economic zone was being planned according to international industrial standards in Mirpur, which would be connected to the western route of CPEC via Mansehra-Mirpur Expressway. Additionally, two hydropower projects – Karot and Kohala – are also be built under the CPEC project. He thanked the former Prime Minister for making AJK a formal part of the CPEC.
Nawaz Sharif and Masood Khan said that Pakistan’s challenges had increased because of the recent developments, especially those relating to Pak-US relations. “These challenges needed to be met, they said, with ingenuity and sagacity while maintaining Pakistan’s dignity at all costs.
Published in Daily Times, January 27th 2018.
