Sardar Masood Khan, president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, has said that every possible measures will be taken to ensure the students at public sector universities of AJK are provided with the best possible education and facilities. He made these remarks during a call on by Prof Dr Kaleem Abbasi, vice chancellor of the University of AJK, Muzaffarabad. The president reiterated the need to ensure that all appointments, promotions and admissions in the university are made according to the merit. “In order to promote competency and bring the university at par with other universities in the region, we must uphold merit,” he added. The president said that the students will be provided with all necessary academic facilities, including state-of-the-art laboratories and allied equipment. He highlighted the need to promote research-oriented academic activities focusing on encouraging innovation. While emphasising the need to introduce new disciplines at the university, the president asked the VC to take the requisite steps for initiating classes for mass communication, international relations and tourism. He said that a comprehensive understanding of the Kashmir issue in the context of international affairs is only possible if IR degree courses are introduced. Updating the president on the construction of the main King Abdullah Campus of the University of AJK, the vice chancellor said that under the supervision of the Turkish contractors, work on the project is rapidly on its way towards timely completion. Published in Daily Times, June 13th 2018.