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Having closely observed the lives of people in both Kashmir and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) over the years, I have come across a striking reality: the difference in their standard of living is enormous. The contrast is so vast that if one is a pillar, the other is merely a post; if one is north, the other is south; if one is black, the other is white.
There is no doubt that PoJK is an integral part of Jammu and Kashmir and, by India’s position, an inseparable part of the Republic of India. However, one of the greatest challenges in any discussion about its future is the stark difference in the standard of living between Jammu and Kashmir and PoJK.
Kashmir, under India, has developed a growing urban middle class, better infrastructure, improved healthcare, expanding educational opportunities, and a significantly higher standard of living. In contrast, PoJK, under Pakistan’s control, continues to struggle with a much lower standard of living, marked by limited economic opportunities, weaker infrastructure, and inadequate public services conditions that many people would find difficult to accept as part of their daily lives.
This article is not a conventional comparison between Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Jammu and Kashmir. Instead, it examines the practical challenges that would arise from integrating PoJK with Jammu and Kashmir, focusing specifically on how the vast gap in the standard of living makes such a process complex and resource intensive.
The article is entirely centred on the socio-economic conditions in both regions and should not be interpreted as questioning India’s consistent position on PoJK. PoJK is an integral part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and, by India’s constitutional position, an inseparable part of the Republic of India. Rather, this piece seeks to analyse how decades of Pakistan’s ill administration of PoJK and India’s administration of Jammu and Kashmir have shaped the lives, opportunities, infrastructure, public services, and overall standard of living of the people on both sides. It argues that these divergent developmental trajectories have created a significant socio-economic gap that would present serious administrative, financial, and developmental challenges in the event of future integration. Recognising these realities does not weaken the constitutional position of India on PoJK; instead, it highlights the scale of the living standard and development effort that would be required to ensure a sustainable integration.
Jammu & Kashmir enjoys a significantly higher standard of living than Pakistan occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK), largely due to its stronger economy and higher per capita income. The region has a well-developed and modern education system, with numerous universities, medical colleges, engineering colleges, and other higher educational institutions that follow contemporary academic standards, whereas educational opportunities in PoJK remain comparatively limited and less diverse. Jammu & Kashmir also has an extensive network of advanced public and private hospitals equipped with modern medical technology, while healthcare facilities in PoJK are relatively fewer and less equipped. In sports, Jammu & Kashmir possesses stadiums, indoor sports complexes, dedicated courts, and training facilities for a wide range of disciplines, has hosted national and international sporting events, and provides greater opportunities for athletes, whereas sports infrastructure in PoJK remains comparatively underdeveloped. Tourism in Jammu & Kashmir is a major economic driver, attracting millions of visitors annually, while PoJK has not developed a comparable tourism industry. Infrastructure in Jammu & Kashmir has been transformed through modern highways, tunnels, railway connectivity, and airports, whereas poor road conditions, the absence of a railway network, and non-operational air connectivity continue to constrain development in PoJK. The region also offers wider opportunities in governance and public service, with many Kashmiris qualifying for prestigious national civil services such as the IAS, IPS, and IFS, while PoJK lacks similar avenues. Economically, Jammu & Kashmir benefits from a diversified economy based on agriculture, horticulture, tourism, handicrafts, trade, services, and the public sector, whereas PoJK’s economy is comparatively narrower. Bustling markets, shopping complexes, and expanding commercial centres further reflect higher consumer activity and economic growth in Jammu & Kashmir. Over the years, sustained investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure, governance, and economic development has strengthened institutions and improved living standards, creating a substantial socio-economic gap between Jammu & Kashmir and PoJK. The food Kashmiris consume, the clothes they wear, and the houses they live in reflect a much higher standard of living than what is found in PoJK. The lifestyle in Kashmir is entirely different from that in PoJK. Everything, from groceries to household appliances, has a much higher commercial and economic value than it does in PoJK. Indicators such as the doctor-to-citizen ratio, power infrastructure, poverty headcount index, female literacy, access to safe drinking water, inflation, and energy availability further widen this gap. PoJK heavily relies on foreign remittances, whereas Kashmir has a robust domestic economy and receives higher central investment. The difference in budget allocation is also significant, while PoJK has a higher unemployment rate. PoJK has no specialised medical institutions, whereas Kashmir has several. Kashmir has approximately one hospital bed for every 300 people, while PoJK has around one bed for every 1,500 people. Kashmir also enjoys high-speed 5G connectivity, whereas PoJK largely depends on 2G and 3G networks. Kashmir features a highly advanced, universal and competitive commercial mobile ecosystem with widespread access to modern telecommunications services, whereas Pakistan occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK) relies on a more state-controlled and restricted network environment. Jammu and Kashmir has a diverse and inclusive multilingual ecosystem, with five officially recognized languages that reflect its rich cultural heritage. In contrast, Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) has largely followed a more centralized language policy, with Urdu holding a dominant position in official and administrative affairs, often limiting the institutional space for regional and international languages. Kashmir’s schools are modern, with a strong focus on English teaching and the holistic development of students. Public schools receive support through various facilities, perks, and healthy mid-day meals, while in PoJK such initiatives are rarely found. All these factors collectively shape the basic standard of living in both regions.
This is not an attack on the citizens of PoJK but an attempt to expose how Pakistan has kept PoJK deprived and underdeveloped while portraying it as “Azad Kashmir,” in contrast to how India has developed its crown into a modern and sophisticated region. Keeping this in view, the stark difference in basic living standards would make it extremely difficult for Kashmir and the rest of the country to bridge the gap between PoJK and Jammu & Kashmir in the event of integration. To make the merger sustainable It would cost India billions of dollars, decades of investment, and sustained effort, and it would be challenging for the local population to sustain parity with those who are decades behind in terms of infrastructure and quality of life. Having said that, this does not change our position on PoJK. It is an integral part of Jammu & Kashmir and must be restored to its rightful legal status. Jammu & Kashmir, including PoJK and Pakistan occupied Gilgit-Baltistan, has always been and will always remain an integral and inseparable part of India.
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