MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Barrister Sultan Mahmood and Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas on Wednesday jointly performed the groundbreaking of the long awaited ‘dry port complex’ in Mirpur.

The dry port in the lakeside city, which is not only home to hundreds of thousands of UK based expatriates but also an industrial hub of the liberated territory, had been the demand of local and non-local importers, industrialists and traders for the past three decades and on a number of occasions in the past the federal government had shown willingness for its establishment.

However, efforts in this regard picked up momentum after Mr Ilyas took over as AJK premier some four months ago mainly because of

his experience and expertise in business, investment and trade related affairs.

Mr Ilyas, a real estate tycoon whose family runs vast businesses in Pakistan as well as Saudi Arabia, had also served as adviser to the chief minister Punjabon affairs related to business, investment and trade before formally venturing into the AJK politics early last year.

According to Mirza Wajahat Rasheed Baig, AJK secretary for commerce, industry and minerals, the dry port complex is being built on a more than 110-kanals plot at an estimated cost of Rs815.8 million.

He said the prime minister had strictly directed all the departments concerned to accomplish the complex before the stipulated period of 18 months.

In his speech on the occasion, the prime minister said thathe felt relieved that this vitally important project which had been pending for the past 32 years had finally seen the light of day in his rule.

“It [establishment of the dry port] was your dream, it was our dream and it’s being translated into reality at our hands because we have a deep rooted commitment with our people,” he said to the audience amid applause.

The AJK PM asserted that the landmark project would openupnew vistasof socio-economicdevelopment and employmentopportunities for the Kashmiri people as well as those residing in the adjoining areas of Pakistan.

He said that an industrial zone would also be established in Mirpur which would be connected with the industrial areas of Punjab through a network of state of the art arteries.

“It will not only ease inter and intra country trade but also augment revenue generation in our state,” he said.

Announcing that an international airport would also be built in Mirpur, the AJK premier disclosed on

the occasion that a US based businessman of Kashmiri origin had also obtained the license for the liberated territory’s first international private airline.

“Since I have been an ardent advocate from the day one of tapping our rich potential for the benefit of its people, I was offered by the national institutions soon after the installation of our government that if we were willing to launch our own airliner, they will fully facilitate us in all respects,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2022