MIRPUR: Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan(GB) achieved a major breakthrough in bridging gaps between the two regions by launching direct bus service on the eve of the historic ‘Pakistan Day’ celebrated on Thursday.
The inaugural ceremony was held at New Prime Minister(PM) House in the State capital city of Muzaffarabad. AJK PM Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan and the Chief Minister (CM) of GB Barrister Khalid Khurshid inaugurated the Gilgit-Muzaffarabad Bus Service at a grand ceremony hosted in AJK State metropolis to facilitate commuters of both the regions.
The service has been started by the joint efforts of the AJK and GB governments which will restore historical relations and harmony between the people of the two regions. Cultural, social, regional linkages, industry, and tourism will also be promoted through this initiative.
Addressing the ceremony, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan said, “Today is a very important day for the Muslims of the Indian sub-continent as the ‘Pakistan Resolution’ had passed this day in 1940. It is historic that the two regions were going to be restored yesterday.”
“The journey of restoration of connectivity that we started yesterday will be continued. After Eid, they will start a tourism bus service from all major cities of Pakistan in AJK.”
“On the other side of the Line Of Control(LOC), the Kashmiri people are making sacrifices for the completion of Pakistan. No one can defeat the determination of this nation, who raise their children to become Khalid Bin Waleed. India is not aware of our history. India can conquer the world through its film industry, but they should remember that when Muslims go to Spain, they burnt the boats, if India does not stop, we will do the same.”
The PM of AJK said, “The journey between GB and AJK that we started yesterday, we hope that future generations will continue this journey in future as well.”
“GB will support AJK in the fields of communication, agriculture, design and housing, while the government of AJK will benefit from the sectors in which GB is ahead.”
“GB will establish a medical university with the alliance with the government of AJK. While on the other hand, AJK will support the government of GB for the establishment of an engineering college.”
He said, “Any person from GB who will come to AJK will get a 35% discount on purchases and a 25% discount on rent. The scope of AJK Bank will be extended to GB while the cooperative bank of GB will also be brought to AJK.”
Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan said, “The quota of GB will be increased in universities and other educational institutions of AJK.”
“In the future, the officers of both regions will go on posting from one region to the other,” he suggested.
He said, “The governments of both regions would create a special economic zone together.”
