AJK can be turned into a Silicon Valley: Masood

MIRPUR: President AJK and Chancellor of Mirpur University of Science and Technology Sardar Masood Khan,, has said that Azad Kashmir can be turned into a Silicon valley and IT hub, which could supplement and augment Pakistan's burgeoning IT market. 

Addressing a seminar on; ‘Promoting Technology and Entrepreneurship in AJK,’ at Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST) and Sandbox (Pvt) Limited. He advised all the universities to reconfigure their curricula in the light of the emerging economic landscape, especially CPEC. We should produce skilled personnel who would be able to run various enterprises in industrial zone. 

The president advised to create a strong interface between industry, the private sector and academic instructions, industry and institutions like MUST should work more closely. He urged the AJK Chamber of Commerce and Industry to act as a matchmaker between industry, business and universities. He also invited the diaspora, especially in the IT sector, to come back home and serve the nation. 

He asked the youth of five AJK universities to learn to manage knowledge for sustained and sustainable development.  He emphasised to give higher importance to the core disciplines of mathematics and basic sciences to sustain this effort.

He advised the concerned sectors to take maximum benefit from all these factors, AJK has to skillfully use entrepreneurship as a catalyst. He further said that existing and potential strengths that mentioned before, Azad Kashmir seems ready to become a technology hub, with a sharp focus on IT. ''With the launch of 3G and 4G coverage in Azad Kashmir, such tasks would become easier.'' he added.

He informed that for promotion of technology and entrepreneurship, the AJK Government will strengthen efforts to enhance space for the private sector.'' This is necessary to absorb the growing skilled manpower and to unleash the full potential of small and medium sized businesses.'' he added.

The President AJK warned that opposition to meritocracy is rampant and it is a big barrier to the emergence of a fully vibrant and self-reliant Azad Kashmir.'' People, not just politicians, bureaucrats and teachers, are used to hindering decisions based on merit.