MUZAFFARABAD: The US ambassador to Pakistan, Richard Olson, on Thursday renewed his country`s support for bilateral trade opportunities, educational exchange, and development programmes in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

In his maiden visit to the region, the US ambassador called on AJK President Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob Khan, and also met with a delegation of senior AJK officials.

He discussed investment and trade opportunities during a meeting with Chamber of Commerce leaders and entrepreneurs from the region.

`The United States is the largest export market and one of the largest sources of foreign investment for Pakistan,` he told the business community leaders.

Jointly with the AJK`s President, Mr Olson performed the groundbreaking ceremony of a new building that will house the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir`s (UAJK) Faculty of Education at the City Campus.

This state-of-the-art building which will include eight classrooms, a computer lab, a teaching lab, library and multipurpose hall will accommodate approximately 300 students.

`We believe that a world-class learning facility will help attract the best and brightest students to pursue careers as teachers,` Mr Olson said.

The Faculty of Education building at the University of AJK is part of the comprehensive education programme that the US supports alongside the government of Pakistan for the entire country.

This programme includes the $160 million Pakistan Reading Project; building and repairing over 850 schools; establishing centres for advanced studies in water, agriculture and food security, and energy at four Pakistani universities; a $1 million University Partnership programme between the UAJK and San Jose State University in Linguistics and English Education; expanding English skills for more than 5,000 low-income students; and awarding more than 4,800 scholarships for university students to pursue education through the Pakistan-USAID Merit and Needs Based Scholarship Programme.

President Khan said on the occasion that the envoy`s visit to the varsity reflected US` commitment to promotion of quality education in AJK.

Mr Olson later joined 30 English Access Microscholarship Programme students, aged between 14 and 16 years, to celebrate World Intellectual Property Rights Day at the Lincoln Corner in UAJK.

During the event, organised by the READ Foundation, Access students displayed and explained their creative work to him, discussed the importance of intellectual property protection and gave him a signed and bound copy of their written work.

At an exhibition of handicrafts made by women with the support of AJK Social Welfare and Women`s Development department, Mr Olson emphasised US support for commitment to women`s empowerment and entrepreneurship in Pakistan and AJK.