MUZAFFARABAD: The King Abdullah Campus of the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK) was formally inaugurated on Friday as a “symbol of the long lasting friendship and cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan”.

AJK President Barrister Sultan Mahmood and Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) director general for Asia operations Dr Saud bin Ayed Al-Shammari jointly unveiled the plaque at the campus in Chattar Klas, some 20 kilometres away from here along Kohala Road.

Participants of the ceremony included Saudi Arabia’s deputy head of mission in Islamabad Mohammed Hamoud M. Albhafer, Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairman Prof Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, officials from the Economic Affairs Division, SFD and AJK government, faculty members and students.

The financial assistance for the construction of the King Abdullah campus, to the tune of $90 million, was approved by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz in the aftermath of the devastating 2005 earthquake which had flattened the UAJK’s main campus in the heart of state capital Muzaffarabad, causing scores of casualties.

Speaking on the occasion, President Mahmood expressed gratitude to the Saudi government for their significant contribution towards the construction of the campus.

Dr Al-Shammari informed the audience that his organisation had not only financed the King Abdullah campus but was also supporting several ongoing education and health sector projects.

“SFD’s contributions towards the reconstruction of this campus came from our commitment to support Pakistan’s sustainable development through the development of social infrastructure,” he said.

Published in Dawn, Aug 5th, 2023