MANCHESTER (Kashmir English): UK Parliamentarians Iqbal Muhammad and Naz Shah expressed an interest to enhance Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) tourism sector.
MP Muhammad met with Chaudhry Abdul Rehman, Secretary, of the AJK Tourism & Archaeology Department, to discuss various investment and engagement potential in AJK‘s tourism sector.
They discussed the considerable potential of AJK as a tourism destination, its scenic beauty, rich & diverse rich cultural heritage, and eco-tourism.
The Secretary updated MP Muhammad on the Government of AJK’s strategy with respect to tourism development with a focus on human–led infrastructure investment for development, community-based tourism programs, and promotion of lesser known tourism areas.
They also talked about the AJK Government’s Tourism Promotion Act of 2019, which aims to create a one-window full facilitation for the private sector in tourism investment by providing facilitated processes, tax exemption on tourism activities, and convenience around land leasing; and possibilities of making investments through Public–Private Partnerships (PPP).
MP Muhammad was impressed with the AJK Government’s tourism related initiatives and offered to link UK based investors and diaspora entrepreneurs to relevant tourism agency stakeholders in AJK.
He also stated that the Kashmiri diaspora in the UK is in a unique position to play a significant role economic and cultural integration and exchange, especially with relation to tourism, eco-resorts, mountain lodges as well as adventure tourism.
In a subsequent meeting, Secretary Rehman met with a delegation of kashmiri diasporas led by MP Naz Shah, where he presented a wide range of AJK’s tourism offerings, investment opportunities, and government facilitation schemes.
MP Shah indicated that she intends to visit AJK with other diaporas of Kashmir and potential investors to investigate this tourism opportunity and attract visitors of tourism from abroad.
The two MPs accepted Secretary Rehman’s invitation to visit AJK this summer, and they will work to strengthen relationships between the people of AJK, British Pakistanis and Kashmiris.
