CPEC instrumental in economic prosperity of the region: Masood khan

MIRPUR, Mar 19 (APP):Azad Jammu & Kashmir President Sardar Masood Khan Monday said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was instrumental in economic prosperity of the region.
The President made these remarks while addressing the one-day seminar on “CPEC and Azad Jammu Kashmir” organized by University of Kotli.
The event was the part of a series of seminars to be
held at public-sector universities of the state for highlighting the
opportunities and challenges of the CPEC.
Sardar Masood Khan said that Kotli University had taken a
positive initiative in arranging this seminar on CPEC and would act as a
catalyst for further research.
The President said that CPEC was not a stand-alone
project but is, in fact, a part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
He said that almost 65 countries, including Pakistan, were a part of BRI which aimed
at global economic connectivity across the continents of Asia, Africa and
Europe.
Highlighting the prospects of CPEC, the President
said that this project was not to be considered a substitute for Pakistan’s overall
economic progress rather a huge channel helping evolve and develop our economy.
Pakistan, he said, was an emerging economy and on its way to become one of the
leading economies in the next three decades.
President Masood Khan said that Azad Jammu and Kashmir
had been included as a key region for CPEC with multiple projects for highway
linkages, energy generation, however developing an industrial estate would help
revive local economy making it into an ideal location for business and tourism
activity.
The AJK President said that with the formal
inclusion of the state in the CPEC; 4 projects had exclusively been earmarked
for this region which includes Karot (720 MW), Kohala (1124 MW) Hydro-power
projects, Special Industrial Zone in Mirpur and the Mansehra-Mirpur Expressway.
The President said that CPEC would generate thousands
of new jobs in specialized fields like logistics, supply chain management,
hydraulics, artificial intelligence and other post-modern subjects.
He urged the students to understand and adapt the upcoming challenges, especially in the
ever-changing job market.
After the event, the President also inaugurated newly built Administration Block at the University campus.