PESHAWAR, Feb 25: The NWFP minister for tourism, archives information and education Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani has directed the concerned authorities to get ready for the tourist season.

Presiding over a meeting at his office on Monday he said that the picturesque areas will become accessible at the start of the spring and summer seasons, so arrangements must be made to facilitate both local and foreign tourists.

He said that both the private and public sectors must join hands to properly exploit the potential of tourism in the province which would benefit both the local population, the entrepreneurs, and the tourists.

He said that it was the duty of both Sarhad Tourism Corporation and the private tour operators to ensure all possible facilities to the tourist. He also said that the scheduled events of tourist attractions should be finalized in time, properly publicized, and logistic arrangements be made.

The secretary information and tourism Shafiquz Zaman, director sports Maazullah Khan, and Zahoor Durrani of Sahrai Travels and Tours were also present at the meeting.

The NWFP government under a transparent policy has been renting out government rest houses located in the picturesque areas, to people who can run them.

Under this policy, Hotel Falaksair, a historic hotel in Kalam, Swat, which had been abandoned for decades, has been leased out to Greens Group of Hotels for 33 years while chalets in Nathia Gali has been rented out to Sahrai Travels and Tours. Durrani of the later group, present on this occasion, briefed the minister of his plans to have different events at these chalets.

He said that they have plans to make their facilities available for study tours and I.T. courses for which some educational institutions had already contacted them.