MUZAFFARABAD: A Saudi government agency Saudi Development Fund (SFD) and President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Friday inaugurated the King Abdullah Campus of AJK University by allocating a grant of 90 million dollars for the project.
King Abdullah Campus at AJK
The event was also graced by the presence of AJK President Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry and Dr. Saud Al-Shammari, DG of the Saudi Fund for Development, who jointly revealed the state-of-the-art campus. The campus, constructed with the financial help of Saudi Arabia, is estimated to have cost more than ten billion rupees.
#SFD delegation headed by Director General of Asia Operations, Dr. Saud Al-Shammari, officially inaugurated today the King Abdullah Campus of the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, in the presence of the President of the State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, H.E. Sultan Mehmood… pic.twitter.com/jvhM6B7Aou
— الصندوق السعودي للتنمية (@SaudiFund_Dev) August 4, 2023
AJK President Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry expressed his profound gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for their key contribution towards the construction of campus. He also highlighted that King Abdullah Campus, named after the admired former Saudi ruler King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, represents the lasting friendship and brotherhood between the Kingdom and the people of Kashmir.
HE lauded King Abdullah’s remarkable contributions to the Ummah, especially in the fields of healthcare and education.
On the occasion, Dr Saud Al-Shammari emphasized that the SFD not only financed the King Abdullah Campus but also continues to sponsor several current health and education projects across Pakistan.
Dr Saud Al-Shammari hoped that this effort would strengthen the bond of brotherhood and friendship between Azad Kashmir and Saudi Arabia, setting the stage for even stronger relations with each passing generation.
On his part, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC), lauded the generous financial support of 900 million rupees provided by the SFD.
In his speech, VC Dr Muhammad Kaleem Abbasi, expressed his gratitude, thanked the top level delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for their presence and key contribution to the construction of the Campus.
It may be recalled that the financial help for the construction of the Campus was approved by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, after the devastating quake of 2005, which totally destroyed the campus of Azad Jammu and Kashmir University.
The government of Saudi Arabia generously granted more than 180 million rupees in the first stage to establish science laboratories in the campus.
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The King Abdullah Campus stands as a testimony to the lasting friendship and cooperation between Riyadh and Islamabad, strengthening educational opportunities for the people of AJK.
The opening ceremony witnessed a distinguished gathering that included high-ranking
Officials from the Saudi Arabian government, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Head of Mission in Islamabad, representatives from the Saudi Fund for Development, Chairman HEC, members of AJK cabinet, and various government officials attended the ceremony.
