IT, poultry, and meat processing sectors allowed in industrial zones
Muzaffarabad: Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Chaudhry Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, has announced a series of transformative measures aimed at promoting industrial growth and improving the ease of doing business across the region.
The government has granted permission for industries related to information technology, controlled-environment poultry, and meat processing to be established within designated industrial zones. Additionally, sectors including steel, flour mills and rice husking, stone crushing, oil blending units, and foam manufacturing have been removed from the negative list, making them eligible for tax exemptions like other industries.
These decisions were taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Chaudhry Faisal Mumtaz Rathore. The meeting was attended by Advisor for Industries and Commerce Sardar Fahad Yaqoob, President of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Chamber of Commerce Umar Shahzad Jarral, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Zafar Mahmood Khan, Secretary Industries Sardar Adnan Khurshid, and other senior officials.
A key highlight of the meeting was the approval to develop the Mirpur Special Economic Zone on the pattern of Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones. Under this plan, the zone will be connected to the national highway through a dedicated road link from Lehri, while priority provision of electricity transmission and other essential infrastructure will be ensured to create a business-friendly environment.
In a significant step toward facilitating investors, the Director Industries has been granted authority to approve plot transfers and changes in trade categories. This move is expected to streamline business processes and ensure that investors’ concerns are addressed on a fast-track basis, reducing bureaucratic hurdles.
The government expressed confidence that these reforms will create a conducive environment for business activities, increase state revenue, and attract both domestic and foreign investment. The meeting also reaffirmed the commitment to promote Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), generate employment opportunities for youth, and effectively utilize local resources for sustainable economic growth.
Addressing the participants, Prime Minister Chaudhry Faisal Mumtaz Rathore stated that the government will take full ownership of industrial projects and ensure effective implementation of policies through strong institutional coordination. He emphasized that industrial development is the foundation of sustainable economic stability and that eliminating unemployment and providing dignified job opportunities to youth remains a top priority.
He further stated that all available resources will be utilized to promote investment, support profitable business ventures, and ensure public welfare. The Prime Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to transparency, merit, good governance, and public-private partnership, aiming to transform Azad Kashmir into a strong, stable, and industrially developed region.
Meanwhile, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Chamber of Commerce welcomed the government’s initiatives, describing them as a landmark development for the business community. The chamber termed the measures a “golden opportunity,” stating that they will not only ease business operations but also pave the way for the establishment of new industries and long-term economic progress in the region.
