PESHAWAR, Dec 18: The Sarhad Tourism Corporation (STC) will launch the Laramsar tent village project near Ouch in Lower Dir to promote tourism. “We have prepared PC-1 of the project and it will likely be launched in summer,” sources told APP here on Sunday.

“The budget of the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab is more than Rs2 billion, while the current budget of the STC is Rs7 million,” they said.

They said the STC was focusing on public-private partnership to meet the financial requirements of the project and sustain the tourist sites.

They underscored the need to increase the STC budget to tap the potential of tourism spots at Bathore Dab, Shahai and Laramsar.

“Laramsar is situated 7,000 feet above sea level, from where a tourist can see the green fertile Rabit valley in the north, Timergara valley in the west and Oach and Chakdara valleys in the south,” they said.

On its eastern side were the Swat and Malam Jabba valleys and on the south-western side in Talash valley, they said.

Tourists could see Maidan, Binshahi, Nowshera, Shahi and Lowary Top from Laramsar Top.

The site would be one of the best resorts for hiking, trekking and skiing, they said.

They said five to 10 kanals area was suitable for camping.

“Government departments will be available at Larmasar to facilitate tourists and Pakistan Television Corporation has approved a TV booster for the project,” they said.

They said the STC was planning to link Laramsar resort with all main roads in the area. Currently, there were two roads, from Ouch and Rabat Bazaar, they said.

A chairlift system would be installed and the provincial government had bought land for the purpose, they said.—APP