Saudi Fund for Growth Formally Inaugurates the King Abdullah Campus of Azad Jammu and Kashmir College in Pakistan.
Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)
The Saudi Fund for Growth (SFD) formally inaugurated in the present day the King Abdullah Campus of Azad Jammu and Kashmir College (UAJK) in Pakistan. The King Abdullah campus was funded by way of a beneficiant USD $90 million grant supplied by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, by way of SFD.
The venture was inaugurated by SFD’s Director Normal of Asia Operations, Dr. Saud bin Ayed Al-Shammari, within the presence of the President of the State of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, H.E. Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry. Additionally attending the inauguration ceremony was the Chairman of the Greater Schooling Fee, Professor Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, and the Vice Chancellor of the College of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Professor Dr. Muhammad Kaleem Abbasi, alongside different officers from either side.
The King Abdullah Campus is a cutting-edge facility that hosts 15 educational departments, in addition to administration blocks, lodging, a library, a mosque, a state-of-the-art auditorium, and different important facilities. Over 10,000 college students, college members, and staff are anticipated to profit from the brand new campus, which can supply cutting-edge analysis and academic alternatives, whereas serving to to help the sustainable socio-economic improvement of Pakistan. The brand new campus will even contribute in direction of serving to to comprehend the United Nations Sustainable Growth Objectives, particularly SDG4, High quality Schooling, SDG5, Gender Equality, SDG8 First rate work and Financial progress, and SDG11, Sustainable Cities and Native Communities.
On this event, the President of the State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, H.E. Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, stated: “Amidst the echoes of historical past, the benevolence of an excellent nation stays etched within the hearts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Because the President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Chancellor of the College of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, I humbly acknowledge the pivotal position performed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led by the visionary King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, within the wake of the calamitous earthquake of 2005. The folks of Azad Jammu and Kashmir will perpetually cherish the profound impression of the substantial monetary help bestowed upon us, which not solely rebuilt our beloved college but in addition sowed the seeds of an unyielding friendship between Saudi Arabia and Kashmir. A bond destined to transcend time and generations, symbolizing the epitome of humanity and cooperation within the face of adversity.”
On his half, the SFD Director Normal of Asia Operations, Dr. Saud bin Ayed Al-Shammari, stated: “SFD’s contributions in direction of the reconstruction of the King Abdullah Campus, following the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, got here from the Fund’s dedication to supporting Pakistan’s sustainable improvement by way of the event of social infrastructure. This venture is a results of the shut developmental relations, and profitable longstanding partnership, which has existed between SFD and Pakistan for greater than 47 years.“
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kaleem Abbasi, Vice Chancellor of Azad Jammu and Kashmir College, additionally expressed his profound pleasure, and acknowledged: “Within the face of challenges, the federal government of Saudi Arabia has exemplified unwavering help, rising as a beacon of hope by generously contributing by way of the Saudi Fund for Growth to assemble the King Abdullah Campus—an progressive and state-of-the-art instructional facility—inaugurated in the present day. Symbolizing a permanent bond of brotherhood between Saudi Arabia and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, this campus stands as a valuable present.”
SFD has a protracted historical past of supporting Pakistan’s improvement. Since 1976, SFD has financed 16 initiatives within the nation, offering 18 smooth loans estimated at greater than USD $1.1 billion. These initiatives have been launched and applied to help a variety of sectors, together with water, well being, vitality, transportation, social infrastructure and different sectors. Moreover, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia additionally supplied a grant— estimated at over USD $500 million — to implement 23 improvement initiatives to assist Pakistan overcome the damages brought on by the 2005 earthquake. Different monetary help from SFD has included a deposit supporting the nation’s price range, amounting to USD $3 billion, alongside financing export credit score and insurance coverage, and the import of crude petroleum derivatives, amounting to USD $5.44 billion.
The inauguration of the King Abdullah Campus is a serious milestone within the improvement of the College of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It’s a image of the robust friendship between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and a testomony to the dedication of the SFD to supporting improvement initiatives in Pakistan and different growing international locations around the globe.
