MANCHESTER:
Members of the British Parliament are set to encourage overseas Pakistanis and Kashmiris to visit Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to experience its natural beauty this coming summer.
The UK Member of Parliament Iqbal Muhammad discussed the investment opportunities in AJK’s tourism sector with Chaudhry Abdul Rehman, Secretary of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Tourism & Archaeology Department. Both the secretary and the MP agreed to explore potential collaborations and investments in the tourism sector, aiming to generate more jobs in AJK.
The discussions focused on AJK’s immense tourism potential, emphasizing its picturesque landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and eco-tourism prospects. Secretary Rehman briefed MP Muhammad on the Government of AJK’s vision for tourism development, which includes infrastructure upgrades, community-based tourism initiatives, and the promotion of lesser-known destinations.
They also delved into the AJK Government’s Tourism Promotion Act of 2019, which introduces a one-window facilitation system for private sector investment. Secretary Rehman further outlined various initiatives aimed at attracting local and international investors, such as streamlined procedures, tax incentives, land lease facilitation, and public-private partnership (PPP) models.
MP Muhammad praised the AJK Government’s efforts and expressed his full support in connecting UK-based investors and diaspora entrepreneurs with relevant stakeholders in AJK. He emphasized the importance of the Kashmiri diaspora in the UK as a vital bridge for both economic and cultural exchanges, particularly in areas like eco-resorts, mountain lodges, and adventure tourism.
In conclusion, Secretary Rehman invited MP Muhammad to visit AJK and explore the emerging tourism landscape and potential investment sites. Both parties left the meeting with a shared commitment to promoting sustainable tourism development in the region.
Earlier, Secretary Rehman met with a delegation of overseas Kashmiris, led by UK Member of Parliament Naz Shah, to discuss the region’s tourism potential. Secretary Rehman briefed the delegation on AJK’s diverse tourism offerings, investment opportunities, and the government’s investor facilitation programs.
The MP Shah expressed her commitment to visiting AJK along with other Kashmiri influencers and potential investors to explore opportunities in the tourism sector and to attract international and British tourists to the region.
The MP Shah assured Secretary Rehman that she would leverage her social media networks and personal connections to encourage the British community to visit AJK. These visits, she emphasized, would also help to strengthen ties between the people of AJK, British Pakistanis and Kashmiris.
Before concluding the meeting, Secretary Rehman extended invitations to both MPs, Muhammad and Shah, to visit AJK this summer. Both MPs accepted the invitations and assured they would visit AJK soon.
