Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is frequently described as an area facing development issues when contrasted to its peers in mainland Pakistan and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). However, a deeper look at the statistics reveals a more complex picture—one in which AJK not only holds its own in numerous critical categories but in some cases outperforms other regions. This article dives into the population, education, healthcare, economics, and infrastructure of AJK, providing a fact-based viewpoint that challenges popular beliefs.

Demographics and Infrastructure: A Resilient Region

With a population of 4.45 million, AJK makes up around 1.8% of Pakistan’s overall population. When the diaspora is considered, the number reduces to 1.01%. Despite its tiny area, AJK has a population density of 300 persons per square kilometre, which is significantly higher than the national average and reflects the region’s dense settlement patterns.

One of the most notable elements of AJK’s infrastructure is its high road density. With 0.66 kilometres of road per square kilometre, AJK has twice the road density of mainland Pakistan and even outperforms IIOJK, despite the latter’s tremendous improvement under Operation Sadbhavna. This connectivity is critical for economic activity, social mobility, and access to services, putting AJK in a better position than previously thought.

Education: AJK Leads the Way

Despite the image of educational disadvantage, AJK has the highest literacy rate in the area at 76.8%, outperforming both mainland Pakistan (62.3%) and IIOJK (67%). This feat indicates not just the availability of educational institutions, but also the cultural value placed on education. AJK has 5,974 schools, 174 institutions, and seven universities, suggesting a strong educational system.

Furthermore, the teacher-to-student ratio at AJK is an amazing 1:16.04, the best in the country. The school-pupil ratio emphasises AJK’s educational superiority, with the area having the best ratio in Pakistan. Furthermore, the survival rate to grade 10 is greater in AJK than in other regions, indicating fewer dropouts and better educational results.

However, success is not without hurdles. If suitable economic opportunities and social changes are not available, the high literacy rate, particularly among females, may lead to societal inequities. Despite the plethora of educational institutions, the quality of education and its influence on societal development continues to be a source of worry.

Healthcare: A Mixed Bag of Success and Challenges

Healthcare in AJK provides a mixed picture. The region has a doctor-patient ratio of 1:4,206, which is better than many places of Pakistan and even IIOJK. The existence of military medical institutions, which supplement the public healthcare system and serve around 1.18 million patients each year, contributes to this ratio. AJK inhabitants also receive free medical care at these military hospitals, which considerably reduces the burden on the civilian healthcare system. In the previous five years, over 8.6 million individuals have received treatment at Army medical institutions.

However, the scarcity of medical personnel is a major concern. Many Kashmiri medical graduates do not return to AJK after completing their studies in mainland Pakistan, leaving the territory with a 187-doctor shortfall. The patient-bed ratio is the best in Pakistan, due in part to military facilities, but the area continues to struggle with keeping medical experts and ensuring that healthcare services fulfil the demands of the community.

Economy: Underutilized Potential

The AJK economy, while promising, is underutilised. The region accounts for 6.3% of Pakistan’s total electricity output, mostly from hydropower, although it confronts issues in other economic sectors. The tax-to-GDP ratio is 7.77%, and while the region has a lower urbanisation rate (17.4%) than the national average, the poverty and unemployment rates are similarly lower (22%).

Agriculture is undeveloped, with only 276,000 acres of land under cultivation, providing only 20% of the region’s wheat requirement. This reliance on imported wheat and other items exposes AJK to market volatility, raising the expense of life. However, the region’s potential for agricultural, cattle, poultry, honey bee farming, and tourism is mostly unexplored. With targeted investments and regulatory reforms, these sectors have the potential to considerably increase AJK’s economic profile.

Infrastructure and Power: A Region of Paradoxes

AJK has significant power generating capability, particularly in hydropower, where it accounts for 28.5% of Pakistan’s total hydropower generation. Despite this, power use in AJK is minimal, and people pay some of the lowest electricity rates in the country. The plan to subsidise power tariffs, which may benefit home consumers by around Rs 13 per unit and business users by Rs 23 per unit, exacerbates the dichotomy of high output and low demand.

Telecom services in AJK provide an intriguing contrast. With a 100% telecom density and 1,411 telecom towers, the area is well-linked. However, the assumption that the Special Communications Organisation (SCO) prevents other telecom carriers from functioning in AJK is incorrect. In actuality, telecom companies prioritise population centres based on business interests, and independent assessments have found that the 3G/4G signal strength in AJK is more than 90% reliable. Despite operating at a deficit, the SCO continues to deliver critical services, helping to improve regional connectivity.

Conclusion

The findings show AJK as an area that, despite enormous obstacles, demonstrates resilience and promise that is frequently overlooked. From its high literacy rate and excellent road infrastructure to its underutilised agricultural potential and perplexing power-generating environment, AJK is an area of contrast that defies easy categorisation.

The obstacles are real—healthcare shortages, weak economic sectors, and social imbalances—but so are the possibilities. By tackling these concerns via targeted investments, policy changes, and strategic planning, AJK can turn obstacles into opportunities, paving the path for a more affluent and equitable future.

The narrative of hardship and underdevelopment that frequently surrounds AJK must be re-examined in light of the evidence. While there are challenges, the region has made remarkable progress and has great promise. AJK’s tale is of perseverance, opportunity, and hope for a better future.