Centre of Excellence for CPEC and CPEC Centre University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir convened one-day seminar on "CPEC and Regional Connectivity: Opportunities and Challenges" HE Masood Khan, President Azad Jammu & Kashmir/The Chancellor, University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir addressed the opening ceremony of the conference. Dr Shahid Rashid, Executive Director CoE-CPEC and HE Masood Khan, Chancellor, University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir signed an MoU between both the institutions to carry out the research on different dimensions of CPEC. Dr Fahd Amjad, Head of Policy Division (Regional Connectivity, CoE CPEC) also led a training session on the mode of research.
Several critical questions have been raised during the last few months about the linking of Azad Jammu and Kashmir with the CPEC and its impact on the local economy that needs to be discussed in the public domain. Besides, responding to Indian propaganda against the CPEC due to the disputed nature of the Jammu and Kashmir region needs to be facilitated through creating awareness in the common people.
It was also necessary to discuss the socioeconomic impacts of CPEC, Regional integration, trade and development, infrastructure development & employment creation and energy production. So the idea behind the proposed seminar was to provide sufficient information and an analytical perspective to the people of AJK on economic opportunities originating through CPEC. Dr Shahid Rashid, Executive Director CoE-CPEC presented progress and way forward under CPEC. An overview of CPEC projects in Pakistan and AJ&K was presented by Mr. Hassan Daud Butt, Project Director CPEC MoPD&R.
Dr Talat Shabbir, Director China Pakistan Study Centre ISSI, Dr Liaqat Ali Shah, Head of Policy Division (Trade & Development) CoE-CPEC, Dr Asma Haider Baloch, Member Social Sector MoPD&R, Dr Fahd Amjad, Head of Policy Division (Regional Connectivity) CoE-CPEC participated as speakers and discussed the aforementioned issues.
HE Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan, Prime Minister Azad Jammu & Kashmir honored the ceremony to be the chief guest and addressed the concluding ceremony of the
seminar.
This seminar was attended by government officials, civil society activists, business leaders, investors from the diaspora, journalists and students who will get benefit from the analysis and information provided during the seminar.-PR