Azad Kashmir can be turned into a Silicon Valley and IT hub, Sardar Masood Khan

Sardar Masood Khan, the President Azad Jammu, and Kashmir, also the chancellor of Mirpur University of Science and Technology, has stated that Azad Kashmir can be turned into a Silicon Valley and IT hub so that it can meet the increasing needs of the Pakistan economy. He also said that it can be used to host venture capital and high-tech firms.

Emphasizing the importance of knowledge in developing any region or country, Khan said that the focus of the nation should be to build a knowledge-based economy and country. “Azad Kashmir is ready for such a transformation”, he added.

Masood Khan spoke these words when addressing a seminar on Promoting of Technology and Entrepreneurship in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The seminar was organized by the Sandbox Pvt Limited and Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST).

Khan’s advice to all AJK universities was that they change their curriculum so that they are more in line with the emerging economic landscape especially as far as AJK’s integration with CPEC is concerned. He stated that the competencies of each university should be in line with aspects such as growing fruits and flowers, agricultural farms, mining, fiber-optics, industrial parks, management of energy plants, generation of power, development of infrastructure and others. To achieve these aspects in universities, Khan advised that they should set up training institutions and business schools that will equip each student with the right skills in finance, marketing, corporate management and others.

Masood Khan went ahead to say that, at the moment, the technology threshold in AJK is quite low. However, there are plans to accelerate the growth of the region owing to the building of dams, promoting tourism and other facilities.

The president further explained we are ready to become an IT hub, with a deep focus on information technology encompassing startup business acceleration, incubators, and software houses. Such task would become easier, with the launch of 3G or 4G coverage is AJK.

He added, in line with the goals of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a state of the art industrial zone was to be established in Mirpur. The industrial zone is set to spearhead many positive changes in the AJK region with the main focus being development.

Feature image source: PakistanToursGuide