AJK president lays foundation for Rs7bn Poonch University project

By Syed Abbas Gardezi
November 15, 2023
President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry addresses the audience after laying the foundation stone on November 13, 2023. — Facebook/Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry
President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry addresses the audience after laying the foundation stone on November 13, 2023. — Facebook/Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: President Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry on Monday laid the foundation stone of mega projects worth over Rs7 billion for Poonch University. The president highlighted that providing higher education opportunities to students is a top priority of the government.

Referring to the inauguration of Mega Project Phase-1 under which academic block would be constructed at two billion and seventy crore rupees, the president said it was a proud moment for all including teachers, administrative staff and residents of Rawalkot and especially the students of Jamia Poonch Rawalakot. Barrister Chaudhry said that it was a matter of great pride and privilege for him to lay the foundation stone of Mega Project Phase 2.

“I am also very grateful to the Government of Pakistan for investing heavily in the education sector through the Higher Education Commission for the promotion of higher education in Azad Kashmir. We are also very thankful to the Chairman Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, who continued to support us by taking a personal interest”, the president said.

Barrister Chaudhry reiterated his commitment to making AJK a centre of higher education and research activities. He said that the government was going to start the tendering process for Jamia Poonch’s Chhota Gullah Campus very soon. The completion of these projects, he said, would have a great impact not only on the academic life of Rawalkot but also on the entire Azad Kashmir.

The president said that he had recently inaugurated the King Abdullah Campus of Azad Jammu and Kashmir University, which was built with the support of the Saudi Fund at Rs13.5 billion in August this year. He said that an academic block was also inaugurated at Kotli University.

The inauguration ceremony was attended and addressed by the Vice Chancellor of Poonch University Dr Zakaria Zakir, Chairman Higher Education Commission of Pakistan Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and others, whereas former AJK President Sardar Muhammad Yaqub Khan, Member Legislative Assembly Sardar Hasan Ibrahim Khan and others.