Srinagar, Aug 18: Former minister for Law, Justice, Revenue, Relief & Rehabilitation, Syed Basharat Ahmad Bukhari Tuesday praised entrepreneurs in Kashmir for their efforts towards creating employment avenues for the region’s unemployed youth, saying that those who help people earn their livelihood by providing skill sets and job opportunities are among those who are dear to God.

Bukhari was speaking at the annual day function of GenTechPro, a technology, proposal development and staffing firm with its offshore operations in Srinagar and clients in the United States.

He appreciated the role being played by local entrepreneurs in creating jobs and providing talented youth with opportunities to build their careers.

Speaking on the occasion, Raja Muzaffar Bhat, Head of the J&K RTI Movement and J&K Climate Action Group, highlighted the importance of proper waste management and responsible disposal of waste to protect Kashmir from environmental disasters. He called upon everyone to come forward and contribute towards protecting the environment, stressing that environmental conservation requires collective efforts.

During the function, both Syed Basharat Ahmad Bukhari and Raja Muzaffar Bhat were honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards for their selfless contributions towards the people of J&K through their respective work.

Employees of GenTechPro were also presented certificates of appreciation in recognition of their commendable work and contribution to the organisation’s growth.

GenTechPro CEO and Co-founder Syed Hidayat Bukhari spoke about the company’s journey, growth and vision. He said GenTechPro started its operations with three employees and has now grown to a workforce of 18 employees.

He said the company is envisioning a workforce of 50 employees by the end of 2027, adding that the broader vision of GenTechPro is to provide employment opportunities to as many talented youth as possible.

While giving details about GenTechPro, its Co-founder and Director Operations Syed Jehangir Nazir said the company provides customised technology, proposal development and staffing solutions to government and enterprise clients. He said the company focuses on secure, scalable and innovative services, with expertise in proposal development, IT solutions and workforce support.

He added that GenTechPro’s parent company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offshore offices in Srinagar, Chennai and Noida, enabling it to serve clients across different markets.

Dr. Tariq Ahmad Masoodi, a globally recognised biotechnology and cancer-genomics scientist, also attended the event. Speaking on the growing role of technology in healthcare, he highlighted the potential of AI, genomics and precision diagnostics to support earlier detection of cancer and more individualised treatment decisions. He stressed the need to move beyond blind or conventional therapies and increasingly shift towards targeted, data-driven treatment decisions guided by the molecular and genetic characteristics of individual patients.

Dr. Masoodi has more than 100 research publications and thousands of citations, with his work spanning genomics, cancer biology and AI-driven precision oncology.

Sheikh Owais, International Learning and Development Expert and Founder of Aurelian Academy, also attended the event. Speaking on the occasion, he underlined the importance of English-language proficiency, particularly correct pronunciation, in professional communication. He noted that GenTechPro’s clientele includes native English speakers, making effective communication an important part of professional engagement.

The annual day concluded with the organisers expressing appreciation to the distinguished guests for gracing the occasion, while reaffirming GenTechPro’s commitment to creating more professional opportunities for talented youth in the region.