KARACHI - President Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Sardar Muhammad Masood Khan has said work on four mega projects under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is continued with a fast pace and AJK will emerge as an economic power in the region in the coming few years.

Addressing a ceremony held here Tuesday under the auspices of English Union Council (EUC), he elaborated the mega projects being implemented in AJK. He said these projects include Karto-Kohala hydropower projects, Mansehra-Mirpur Expressway and Mirpur industrial zone.

President AJK said Karot hydropower project will produce 720 MW and Kohala hydro power project  will produce 1124 MW electricity. Besides this, initial work on Gulpur, Azad Pattan, Mahal and Dohniyal hydro power projects have been started. He was optimistic that AJK will be able to produce 6000 MW electricity in the coming decade.

Sardar Masood Khan said that AJK will supply extra power to Pakistan’s national grid station after fulfilling its own demands.  He hoped it will help strengthen economy of Pakistan.  He said Mansehra-Mirpur expressway would connect entire Azad Kashmir to CPEC’s central route. He said it would be helpful for economic progress of Azad Kashmir and for the people.

He informed that industrial zone is being established in Mirpur under CPEC where local and foreign investors will make investments. He said people will get livelihood opportunities and new era of prosperity will kick off. He also invited business community of Karachi to invest in Azad Kashmir.

Talking about Kashmir issue, he said Indian forces were massacring innocent Kashmiris people in occupied Kashmir and their houses and properties were being ruined. He added Kashmiris are being made homeless in their own homes.

 He said Kashmiri youths and leadership is being imprisoned while women are being desecrated.  He said hundreds of Kashmiris were crippled through pellet guns.

He lamented over silence of the human rights organizations for serious violations of human rights in occupied Kashmir and demanded to take notice immediately and help implement United Nations resolutions for peaceful solution of Kashmir issue so that peace could be established in South Asia. He assured complete cooperation to his Kashmiri brethren till achieving freedom from India.

He added the day was not far when sun will rise giving good news of freedom of Kashmir.