Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said peace is crucial to development, asserting that places in the Union territory that were once synonymous with conflict, are now beacons of harmony.
“Development requires the oxygen of peace. My government’s primary objective is to provide you with a transparent, democratic, and stable environment,” the chief minister said, addressing the 21st convocation of the University of Kashmir here.
The chief minister, who is also the pro-chancellor of the University of Kashmir, today said that for a long time, Jammu & Kashmir’s economy was viewed through a narrow lens, but the J&K of 2026 is emerging as a “hub for innovation and participatory governance”.
According to an official press release, addressing the gathering, the chief minister described the moment as pivotal, recalling that he had recently presented the 2026–27 Budget in the Legislative Assembly, terming it a “fiscal compass”. He said the budget was not merely a statement of accounts but a declaration of intent to transform J&K into a modern, progressive and economically vibrant region.
“For too long, our economy was viewed through a narrow lens. We were ‘just’ tourism, or ‘just’ agriculture. But the J&K of 2026 is becoming a hub for Innovation and participatory governance,” he said.
Referring to the challenges faced in recent years, including the trauma of 2025 and the economic setbacks that followed, he said resilience had defined the people of J&K. “My government is focused on three pillars: meritocracy, sustainability, and digital sovereignty,” he asserted.
Urging students to honour the sacrifices behind their success, he asked them to look towards their parents seated in the gallery and said the degree they were receiving belonged as much to them. Quoting Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), he reminded them, “Your Heaven lies under the feet of your mother,” and said that as they walked across the stage, they were walking with the dreams and sacrifices of their elders. He also expressed gratitude to the faculty for mentoring students with discernment in an age of information overload.
Calling the convocation a day of “succession”, the chief minister told the graduating students that they were succeeding the generations who kept the flame of knowledge alive through difficult times and were now the torch-bearers of the future.
Quoting Kashmiri mystic poetess Lalleshwari (Lalla Ded), he urged students to embark on the journey of self-realisation even as their formal education concluded.
He asked students to acknowledge the sacrifices of their parents and expressed gratitude to faculty members for their contribution in shaping the lives of students.
Highlighting a key milestone, the chief minister said that nearly 60 percent of the degrees and medals at this year’s convocation were earned by women. Terming it a powerful instrument against poverty and instability, he said J&K had moved from “women’s welfare” to “women-led development.”
He said under the UMEED scheme, 7 lakh women had been organised into 80,000 Self-Help Groups, leading to the rise of “Lakhpati Didis” as financial anchors in their communities. He added that interest-free soft loans were being provided for women-led startups in manufacturing and IT sectors. He encouraged women graduates to aspire for leadership roles in civil services, biotechnology and be part of global platforms.
“I want to see you in our civil services, leading our biotech labs, and representing us on the global stage. Your brilliance is the gold medal J&K wears today,” he said.
On tourism, the chief minister said while it remains J&K’s lifeline, it must evolve. He stressed that reliance solely on destinations like Gulmarg and Pahalgam was not sufficient and highlighted the government’s push for border tourism in villages such as Keran, Gurez and Teetwal. He said nine new destinations were being developed in coordination with the Union Government to ensure benefits reach the last mile.
Emphasising sustainability, he said investments were being made in sustainable infrastructure, including artificial snow technology in Gulmarg and promotion of eco-friendly accommodations, to protect the fragile environment. He called upon Environmental Science graduates to help create a “Green Standard” for Kashmiri hospitality.
Turning to agriculture, he described it as the cultural soul of the people but stressed the need for transformation through a High-Density Revolution. He said technology and quality saplings were being provided to enable fruit exports to international markets. He urged Science and IT graduates to develop solutions such as real-time pest detection apps and blockchain-based traceability systems to authenticate products like Pampore saffron in global markets.
Articulating a “Saffron & Silicon” vision, he said J&K was being positioned as a data-friendly zone and an ideal destination for Green Data Centers, with a focus on creating job providers rather than job seekers.
Addressing concerns about employability, he said the administration was restructuring industrial policy to incentivise knowledge-based industries and establish R&D centres within J&K so that graduates would not need to migrate to cities like Pune or Hyderabad for opportunities. Common Facilitation Centres were being developed to help young innovators convert ideas into prototypes without heavy financial burdens.
The chief minister also underscored the importance of mental health, stating that society had endured immense pressure and trauma. He said the government was expanding district-level counselling through Mission Youth and urged Psychology and Social Work graduates to help de-stigmatise conversations around mental well-being.
Reiterating his government’s commitment to a transparent and stable environment, he said recruitment reforms were aimed at replacing “recommendation” with “qualification,” ensuring merit remained the only currency.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi’s call to “Be the change that you wish to see in the world,” he urged graduates to solve problems, confront injustice and pursue their dreams with resilience.
“The road from Naseem Bagh leads to the world,” he said, encouraging students to excel globally while preserving the spirit of Kashmiriyat. Referring to the university’s motto, “Let us move from darkness to light,” he told the graduates, “Today, you are that light,” expressing confidence that they would lead Jammu & Kashmir towards a bright and dignified future.
