MUZAFFARABAD, Feb 16 (APP): The Kashmir Development Foundation (KDF) has formally submitted a set of policy recommendations aimed at strengthening people-centred development and credible diaspora engagement in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The recommendations were presented in the context of the Overseas Kashmiris Convention in Muzaffarabad and shared with both the Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan and the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The policy papers, titled “From Commitment to Conditions”, emphasise that sustainable diaspora investment depends on reliable infrastructure, transparent governance, financial inclusion, and meaningful community participation.
Drawing on international commitments reaffirmed at the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha (2025) and the United Nations Declaration on the Right to Development, the submissions highlight that development must place people at the centre and deliver tangible benefits to local communities.
Sardar Aftab Khan, Executive Director Kashmir Development Foundation said that “KDF’s recommendations focus on practical measures within existing constitutional and administrative frameworks, including support for local livelihoods and small enterprises, investment in cultural and economic infrastructure, community-owned tourism models, improved digital and service delivery, and greater transparency in development reporting.”
The Foundation stresses that diaspora engagement is most effective when it is anchored in credible local conditions rather than symbolic announcements.
Speaking on the submission, KDF representatives noted that Overseas Kashmiris remain deeply committed to the welfare of their homeland, but seek honesty, accountability, and visible delivery.
The Foundation expressed hope that the recommendations would contribute constructively to ongoing policy discussions and support efforts to build a development approach that is dignified, inclusive, and sustainable for the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.