ABBOTTABAD, March 2: A comprehensive policy focusing on the development of mountains is to be made from the economic perspective.

This was stated by Dr Shahid Zai, Executive Director SUNG I Development Foundation, at a press conference here on Friday.

He said the year 2002 was being celebrated worldwide as the “Year of Mountains” by UNO and Pakistan, especially the Hazara division, would be the main beneficiaries of this fiesta.

He said that SUNG I had chalked out a detailed programme to create awareness among the public and line departments about the importance of mountains development. They could be utilized as the main earning resource for the area people.

SUNG I executive director said that hazards management units could save the people of the area from big disasters for which he quoted the example of Shinkiyari where rain water had drowned a village some time back with huge casualties and loss of properties.

He pointed out that after the development of mountains, migration of peoples from hilly areas to cities could be stopped.