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Altaf Hamid Rao.
MIRPUR (AJK), April 21: Azad Jammu and Kashmir is on a path of rapid socio-economic and tourism-driven development, with major infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and investment opportunities, said Commissioner Mirpur Division Raja Tahir Mumtaz Khan on Tuesday.
He stated that the government is making all-out efforts to ensure accelerated development across the region, particularly in Mirpur Division, which holds strategic importance due to its industrial, commercial, and overseas community links.
Speaking during a briefing session with a visiting delegation of Senior Management Course officers from the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), Lahore, the Commissioner highlighted that the recently completed Rs. 10 billion Rathua Haryam Bridge over the Mangla Dam reservoir will open new avenues for economic growth and tourism promotion in the region.
He further revealed that preliminary work on the proposed Mirpur International Airport is already underway. Once completed, the airport is expected to connect Mirpur with international destinations, significantly enhancing its global accessibility, particularly for the large overseas Kashmiri community.
Commissioner Khan noted that Mirpur is widely known as the “overseas city” due to a substantial population residing abroad, contributing significantly to remittances and local development. He added that the city’s identity is closely linked with its diaspora, which continues to play a vital role in its economic progress.
He also said that the Mangla Dam project, for which the local population sacrificed land, homes, and ancestral properties, remains a cornerstone of Pakistan’s agricultural and economic development.
Highlighting investment opportunities, he said industrial zones in Mirpur and Bhimber are attracting investors from across Pakistan and abroad. The government, he added, is taking further steps to expand industrial infrastructure and facilitate investors.
An overseas investment convention held in Muzaffarabad has also been designed to attract foreign investment in multiple sectors, while special instructions have been issued to resolve issues faced by overseas Pakistanis.
The Commissioner said Mirpur now features international-standard hotels, sports facilities including cricket stadiums, Mangla Lake tourism, and growing commercial hubs, all contributing to rising economic activity.
The visiting delegation raised various questions, which were answered in detail by the Commissioner, providing comprehensive insight into administrative, economic, and developmental matters across Azad Jammu and Kashmir.