QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Min­is­ter Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said on Monday that Ziarat, which had the world’s second largest juniper forests, could be developed as a popular tourist spot on the pattern of Murree and Ayubia. He said tourism could boost the local economy and urged people of the area to provide a peaceful and friendly atmosphere to visitors.

People involved in chopping of juniper trees were committing an atrocity with themselves, he said during a visit to Ziarat festival. The juniper forests in Ziarat were centuries-old and local people should discourage their chopping, he added.

“Cutting juniper trees should be declared a social crime and every resident of the area should become a protector of the trees,” he said.

The chief minister asked people to play their due role in ensuring peace at the hill resort, keep an eye on saboteurs and inform security forces about their presence and activities in the area.

Malik says Ziarat can be developed as a popular tourist spot

He said people should cooperate with law-enforcement agencies which had been playing a pivotal role in restoring peace in the province.

He deplored that Ziarat had low literacy rate and advised people to get their children, particularly girls, enrolled in schools. He also asked them to get their children vaccinated against polio.

He announced that Ziarat festival would be organised every year and a stadium built at the site of the local football ground.

Dr Baloch said he would fulfil his promises to provide Ziarat town with an ambulance, vans and scholarship for local students. He said a dam project for Ziarat would be included in the federal Public Sector Development Programme.

He announced a Rs1 million grant for Ziarat Press Club.

Provincial Minister for Information and Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal and Chief Secretary Saifullah Chattha accompanied the chief minister.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2015

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