SRINAGAR: Syed Afaq Qadiri has been re-elected unopposed as President of the Association of Integrated Textile and Handicrafts Park (AITHP), Zakura, marking his third consecutive term in office. The results were formally declared by the three-member election commission on Tuesday, following the Association’s Annual General Body Meeting held on August 16, 2025.
The commission, comprising Sheikh Shehzad Ahmad, Peer Mohammad Zaid and Usman Altaf Baba, oversaw the electoral process and issued the official notification announcing the Governing Body for the 2025–2027 term.
Alongside Qadiri, the newly elected office bearers include Tawseef Ahmad Bhat as Vice President, Ashiq Nabi Purra as General Secretary, Umer Altaf Baba as Secretary, Ishtiyaq Ahmad Tenga as Joint Secretary, Ishfaq Ahmad Khan as Publicity Secretary and Umer Farooq as Finance Secretary. Each will serve a two-year term.
The AITHP, registered under the Registrar of Societies, represents the industrial units operating in the government-established textile and handicrafts park at Zakura. It is also affiliated with the Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), the apex industrial body of the valley.
Under Qadiri’s leadership, the association has made strides in addressing developmental challenges and operational concerns within the estate. A seasoned industrialist, Qadiri has previously served as Senior Vice President and Secretary General of the FCIK. His re-election is widely seen as a vote of confidence in his vision, with expectations that he will further boost the park’s growth and continue advocating for industrial units.
The Zakura-based park holds economic significance as a major contributor to foreign exchange earnings, with a large share of its manufactured and processed products being export-oriented.
Meanwhile, the Advisory Committee of the FCIK, headed by Shahid Kamili and comprising Presidents of estate- and district-level associations across Kashmir, extended congratulations to Qadiri and the newly elected Governing Body. In a statement, the committee lauded the AITHP for conducting timely and transparent elections and urged other industrial associations in the valley to follow suit in order to ensure genuine and democratic representation.
