Asif Iqbal Naik
Kishtwar Jan 14, 2026: PDP District Youth President Shahbaz Zahoor Sheikh has raised serious concerns over the recent social media campaign demanding the establishment of a National Law University (NLU) in Kishtwar, questioning the priorities of local political leadership amid the district’s persistent lack of basic infrastructure and development.
In a detailed statement, Shahbaz Zahoor Sheikh said that while education is vital and every genuine academic demand deserves respect, the sudden push for a specialised institution like an NLU requires a realistic and ground-level assessment. He asked whether Kishtwar has even achieved the minimum infrastructure necessary to sustain such a high-end institution.
Highlighting the poor health sector, the PDP youth leader said that Kishtwar continues to suffer from the absence of a Super Speciality Hospital, while the District Hospital is already overburdened and in urgent need of upgradation. He pointed out that nearly 100 villages in remote areas still lack Primary Health Centres, forcing residents to travel long distances even for basic medical care.
Shahbaz Zahoor Sheikh also expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of the education system at the grassroots level. He said that several Government High Schools and Higher Secondary Schools require immediate upgradation in terms of infrastructure, staffing, and academic quality. He further stressed the long-pending demand for a Government Women’s College and questioned the limited and ineffective functioning of the University of Jammu’s campus at Kishtwar, which, he said, has failed to meet local expectations.
Raising the issue of youth unemployment, the PDP District Youth President said that lack of skill development opportunities remains one of the biggest challenges for Kishtwar. He called for the establishment of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in every block to equip youth with practical and employable skills. He also demanded complete transparency in recruitment and employment generated by hydropower projects, asserting that local youth must be given their rightful share.
Instead of fragmented and selective demands, Shahbaz Zahoor Sheikh said that Kishtwar deserves a full-fledged Chenab University, offering courses across all streams including arts, science, commerce, law, technology, medical and vocational education, which would cater to the broader needs of the Chenab region.
Questioning the sudden focus on a Law University, he remarked, “Ab kya Kishtwar ke logon ka focus sirf vakeel banne tak hi reh gaya hai?” He maintained that a Law University would only be meaningful once strong foundations in healthcare, education, infrastructure and employment are firmly established.
Concluding his statement, Shahbaz Zahoor Sheikh said that development does not begin from the top but grows from strong grassroots. He appealed to the people of Kishtwar to unite and collectively demand basic facilities—schools, colleges, hospitals, skills, and jobs—so that any future specialised institutions genuinely serve the interests of the people and the region.
