ISLAMABAD, July 24: Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat has received offers for investment in medical support and social services sectors in Azad Kashmir.

The offers were made at a business-cum-political dinner in Wallnet area of Los Angeles hosted by Shahina Paracha, a representative of Republican Party who is a close aide of US President George W. Bush.

The dinner was attended by people from different schools of thought including some Kashmiris belonging to the Indian-held part of the state. Representatives from some leading NGOs also offered to expand their network to Azad Kashmir.

Responding to these offers, Faisal Saleh Hayat said Azad Kashmir was an under-developed area which needed to be brought on the par with other developed areas of Pakistan.

For this purpose, he said, his ministry and the AJK Council were exploring chances of attracting foreign investment.

In this connection, the minister said he had visited Britain in March this year and was now visiting the US.

He said like Britain, he had held fruitful discussions in the US, and was hopeful that foreign investors would divert their attention to Azad Kashmir.

For the purpose, he said, huge incentives were being offered to investors.

Lauding the role of the NGOs, Mr Hayat said nowhere in the world, the governments alone could perform all the work. If NGOs, he said, were sharing the load of work of the government in the US, why could they not do it in Azad Kashmir.

He said a number of local NGOs were working in Azad Kashmir registered by the AJK Council.

However, there was a need for foreign NGOs to come to Azad Kashmir and bring their experience and expertise there.

The minister said foreign NGOs coming to the AJK would be encouraged and facilitated.

Answering questions of the participants, the minister said he was trying to introduce good governance in the departments under his control.