MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore on Saturday described overseas Kashmiris as a valuable asset to the state, saying the diaspora was playing an important role in promoting the Kashmir cause and contributing to the region’s development.

Speaking during a meeting with Overseas Commissioner Azhar Iqbal Baralvi at Jammu and Kashmir House, the prime minister said AJK was fortunate to have a strong diaspora community, particularly in the United Kingdom, which remained actively engaged both in local politics in their adopted countries and in the welfare of their homeland.

“Overseas Kashmiris are serving as ambassadors of their motherland across the globe,” he said, adding that the government was committed to addressing the issues faced by the diaspora and strengthening institutional mechanisms to facilitate them.

Mr Baralvi, who hails from Kotli district and served two terms as a Conservative Party councillor on Peterborough City Council between 2014 and 2022, was recently appointed overseas commissioner by the Rathore-led government to identify the problems faced by expatriate Kashmiris and recommend solutions.

According to a press release, the meeting reviewed issues confronting overseas Kashmiris and the steps being taken to resolve them. The prime minister emphasised the need for a coordinated institutional strategy to ensure prompt redressal of their grievances and to maximise facilitation for Kashmiris living abroad.

Mr Baralvi briefed the prime minister on the commission’s work and highlighted key concerns of the diaspora. He said overseas Kashmiris were keen to contribute to the development of their native areas but required proper guidance and facilitation from the government.

“The diaspora community is eager to play its role in the development of the areas they belong to,” he said, welcoming the government’s initiatives to establish a dedicated online portal for overseas Kashmiris and to set up a special court for the expeditious disposal of their legal cases.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) AJK chapter led by its secretary Gulzar Fatima also called on the prime minister and briefed him on the organisation’s humanitarian, emergency relief and welfare activities.

The prime minister appreciated the PRCS’s role in assisting communities affected by natural disasters and other emergencies, saying the government valued its humanitarian mission and would continue to extend full cooperation to its initiatives.

“Serving the weaker and underprivileged segments of society is a collective responsibility,” he said, adding that welfare activities could be further expanded through collaboration between the government and humanitarian organisations.

Ms Fatima thanked the prime minister for the government’s support and said the organisation would continue to carry out its responsibilities with dedication.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2026