AJK PM offers investment opportunities to Overseas Kashmiris

Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, has said that the Overseas Kashmiris Conference is not simply a ceremonial event but a significant milestone signaling the start of the region’s path towards a prosperous and economically secure future

MUZAFFARABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Feb, 2026) Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, has said that the Overseas Kashmiris Conference is not simply a ceremonial event but a significant milestone signaling the start of the region’s path towards a prosperous and economically secure future.

Addressing the Overseas Kashmiris Convention, held here on Monday in collaboration with the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, the AJK premier said it was time to move beyond conventional thinking, adopt out-of-the-box solutions, and evolve a comprehensive strategy to effectively address the region’s fundamental challenges.

The conference, he said, serves as a comprehensive roadmap for the state’s economic progress. "Restoring investor confidence is the government’s fundamental responsibility", he said, adding that the government has decided to establish Special Real Estate Courts (SREC) that would be bound to deliver decisions within 90 days.

"The establishment of SRECs will make the investment process more transparent while providing full legal protection to government decisions", he remarked. The prime minister stated that the existing laws would be reviewed, and if necessary, new legislation would be introduced to create a more enabling environment for business and industrial growth.

The government, he assured, would ensure policy continuity and provide a stable and secure environment for investors. Referring to the measures undertaken to boost investment at the local level, the Prime Minister noted that six industrial units have been made available in Mirpur and that the near-completion of the Dry Port project would be instrumental in streamlining import and export activities.

Similarly, he noted that a one-window operation system for registration, licensing, and certification has been launched." In collaboration with NADRA, the system is being further integrated and digitized to eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic procedures for investors", the pm said. Terming Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence as the backbone of the modern economy, he said that shifting the liberated territory towards a digital economy remains one of his government’s foremost priorities.

He said that work on establishing IT parks was in progress and assured that enhanced connectivity through PTCL fiber networks would be introduced in the near future. "Special training programs will be introduced to equip youth with IT skills, software development, freelancing, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence", he said.

He commended MTBC for generating employment opportunities for four thousand youth, describing it as evidence that Azad Kashmir can emerge as a prominent IT hub if provided with a conducive environment. Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore said that public-private partnerships were being encouraged in the education sector to enhance quality and introduce curricula that meet contemporary standards.

"Likewise, in both the health and education sectors, the government has decided to upgrade the existing hospital infrastructure, degree colleges, universities, and medical colleges to improve their efficiency", he maintained. Highlighting the untapped natural resources, the Prime Minister said, "Azad Kashmir is rich in rare earth minerals, gemstones, and other mineral resources, offering immense investment opportunities.

He said that a Center of Gemstones would be established in Muzaffarabad to organize and modernize the sector. Highlighting the importance of renewable and sustainable energy, the PM added that renewable energy, including solar power, would be a key focus of government initiatives.

Regarding tourism, he stated that sustainable tourism is an important component of government policy. The Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to taking the Kashmir freedom movement to its logical conclusion. He stated that Kashmiris' relationship with Pakistan was rooted in shared culture, history, and faith and that Pakistan’s success is their success. Azad Kashmir, he said, is an autonomous region, with its own distinct identity, a separate legislature, and authority to determine its economic policies.

He described overseas Kashmiris as a valuable asset and the architects of the state’s future. He said that the establishment of an Overseas Commission and an Overseas Commissioner would go a long way to help resolve the problems faced by the community.