Saudi Fund for Development Inaugurates King Abdullah Campus of Azad Jammu and Kashmir University in Pakistan
The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) officially inaugurated today the King Abdullah Campus of Azad Jammu and Kashmir University (UAJK) in Pakistan. The King Abdullah campus was funded through a generous $90 million grant provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through SFD.
The project was inaugurated by SFD’s Director General of Asia Operations, Dr. Saud bin Ayed Al-Shammari, in the presence of the President of the State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, H.E. Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry. Also attending the inauguration ceremony was the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission, Professor Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Professor Dr. Muhammad Kaleem Abbasi, alongside other officials from both sides.
The King Abdullah Campus is a cutting-edge facility that hosts 15 academic departments, as well as administration blocks, accommodation, a library, a mosque, a state-of-the-art auditorium, and other essential amenities.
Over 10,000 students, faculty members, and employees are expected to benefit from the new campus, which will offer cutting-edge research and educational opportunities while helping to support the sustainable socio-economic development of Pakistan. The new campus will also contribute towards helping to realize the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG4, Quality Education, SDG5, Gender Equality, SDG8 Decent work and Economic growth, and SDG11, Sustainable Cities and Local Communities.
On this occasion, the President of the State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, H.E. Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, said:
SFD has a long history of supporting Pakistan’s development. Since 1976, SFD has financed 16 projects in the country, providing 18 soft loans estimated at more than $1.1 billion. These projects have been launched and implemented to support a range of sectors, including water, health, energy, transportation, social infrastructure, and other sectors.
Additionally, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also provided a grant— estimated at over $500 million — to implement 23 development projects to help Pakistan overcome the damages caused by the 2005 earthquake.
Another financial support from SFD has included a deposit supporting the country’s budget, amounting to $3 billion, alongside financing export credit and insurance, and the import of crude petroleum derivatives, amounting to $5.44 billion.
The inauguration of the King Abdullah Campus is a major milestone in the development of the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It is a symbol of the strong friendship between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and a testament to the commitment of the SFD to supporting development projects in Pakistan and other developing countries around the world.
Source: Pro Pakistani