Mirpur: On the directives of Secretary Industries and Commerce Chaudhry Abdul Rehman, a delegation comprising Deputy Secretary Industries and Commerce Zaheer Mukhtar, Deputy Director Zahid Gilani and State Director Raja Kashif Latif held a meeting with Chairman Sialkot Dry Port Trust, Sheikh Naveed Iqbal.
During the meeting, Chairman Sheikh Naveed Iqbal gave a comprehensive briefing on the evolution and success of the Sialkot Dry Port and welcomed the proposal to establish a dry port in Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the Sialkot Dry Port began its journey from a small area of only a few kanals and today is counted among the most successful dry ports in Pakistan.
He said that the establishment of a dry port in Azad Jammu and Kashmir would not only boost investment in the region but would also provide local facilities to overseas Pakistanis from the state, thereby facilitating trade and economic activity at the local level.
On the occasion, Deputy Secretary Industries and Commerce Zaheer Mukhtar reaffirmed the commitment of the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, particularly Minister for Finance and Inland Revenue Chaudhry Qasim Majeed and Adviser to the Minister for Industries and Commerce Sardar Fahd Yaqoob, to promote industrial development in the state. He assured that all possible steps were being taken to implement the government’s policies and directives for industrial growth.
He further stated that the Department of Industries and Commerce was making concerted efforts to remove all hurdles and resolve issues related to the establishment and operationalization of the proposed dry port in Mirpur, with the aim of accelerating economic development and enhancing trade facilitation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.