SKARDU, Jan 7: Shortage of power producing resources remains the main hurdle in boosting economic activities in the Northern Areas, though the region has great potential to develop lucrative industries.
This problem can be solved by setting up hydro-electric projects benefiting from streams in different valleys.
The Northern Areas are considered a tourists’ heaven as the world’s three great and famous mountain ranges — the Himalaya, Karakorum and Hindukush — meet here.
If the tourism industry is provided with basic infrastructure, it can become the major source to earn foreign exchange for the country besides improving the living conditions of tribesmen.