April 03, 2007	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 14, 1428

ISLAMABAD, April 2: The government on Monday constituted a high-powered committee to resolve all issues impending industrialisation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The committee, to be headed by the AJK chief secretary, having representation of KANA, AJK Council, CBR, finance, law and industries departments of the AJK government, will have to work measures for resolving all outstanding issues in a shortest possible time.

An official announcement issued here said that the decision was taken at a high-level meeting, headed by the the AJK Prime Minister, Sardar Atique Ahmad Khan, with CBR chairman on Monday.

The AJK premier urged the CBR chairman to demonstrate the same outlook as was in the case of hydel power projects in resolving the issues impending industrialisation in the state.

He said a large number of expatriate Kashmiris have expressed their desire to invest in the state but cumbersome government procedures and taxation issues remain a hurdle.

He declared that expatriate Kashmiris were a great asset and his government was determined to go an extra mile to resolve all the complexities to ensure their participation in the development of AJK.

The chairman informed the premier that during the meeting with the government on AJK last year, the CBR had mooted a proposal to resolve the sales tax and other impediments in establishing a dry port at Mirpur.

The secretaries of industries, commerce and mineral development of AJK informed that some constitutional issues restrain implementation of CBR proposal.