Luton, (Special Correspondent) — Haji Chaudhry Muhammad Qurban, Chairman of the Mirpur International Airport Movement UK & Europe, has urged the Government of Pakistan to fulfil its commitments regarding the establishment of Mirpur International Airport without further delay.

He said this project is not only a long-standing demand of the overseas Kashmiri community but also of the people and stakeholders of Azad Kashmir. With hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri expatriates settled in Mirpur and surrounding districts who live in the UK and across Europe, there is a strong desire among them to have direct air travel access to their homeland. Such a facility, he emphasized, would save time, resources, and ease travel difficulties.

Haji Chaudhry Muhammad Qurban pointed out that every year thousands of families travel from Britain and Europe to Azad Kashmir. However, upon arrival in Islamabad or other airports, they are forced to undertake a long road journey of several hundred kilometers. This journey, he said, is not only exhausting but particularly difficult for the elderly, women, and children. Establishing Mirpur International Airport, therefore, would not only be a major convenience for the overseas community but also a milestone for the region’s economic development.

He added that the airport would generate employment opportunities, boost tourism in Azad Kashmir at the international level, and encourage overseas Kashmiri investors to channel more investment into their homeland. Such a project, he stated, could serve as the backbone of the region’s socio-economic growth.
The Chairman of the Mirpur International Airport Movement expressed regret that successive governments have repeatedly announced plans for the airport but failed to take practical steps, which has damaged public trust. He recalled that Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar had recently assured serious implementation of this project, and now the time has come to turn those promises into reality.

Haji Chaudhry Muhammad Qurban further stressed that the Mirpur International Airport is not merely a political slogan but a genuine public necessity. Since overseas Kashmiris have direct roots in Mirpur and adjoining districts, this project can no longer be delayed. He urged the Government of Pakistan to place the airport at the top of its national priorities so that the longstanding demand of the people of Azad Kashmir and the global Kashmiri diaspora can finally be met.