QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution, calling on the federal government to declare Ziarat as a ‘tourism point’.

Tabled by Spozmai Achakzai of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), the resolution said that Ziarat was a green area and provided many recreational activities. The town has a special importance because the Quaid-i-Azam Residency is located there. Having the status of an official recreational spot the town would be able to attract a large number of tourists, it added.

The resolution asked the provincial government to approach the federal government for getting the status of an official tourism spot for Ziarat.

Speaking on the resolution, Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri said that the federal government had already provided a grant of Rs1 billion for the development and beautification of Ziarat. He said Murree-like recreational facilities would be provided in Ziarat.

Mr Zehri said the provincial government was taking measures for the development of Ziarat hill station, adding that the government would encourage people to construct hotels and rest houses in the town.

The chief minister vowed to allocate funds for the development of Ziarat in the next provincial budget.

Speaker Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani gave ruling that the word ‘federal’ should be replaced with ‘provincial’ in the resolution.

She said the resolution should demand from the provincial government to declare Ziarat as a tourist spot because after 18th Amendment in the Constitution tourism was a provincial subject.

Provincial Minister for Education Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal expressed concern over the continued chopping of Juniper forests in Ziarat. He stressed the need for taking measures to save trees from devastation and the timber mafia.

Syed Liaquat Ali Agha of PkMAP said funds had been allocated in the provincial budget for installation of chairlift in Ziarat and asked the government to start work on the project immediately.

He said after the 18th Amendment, the subject of tourism had been devolved to provinces, adding that the Balochistan government could grant the status of an official tourism spot to Ziarat.

Dr Shama Ishaq of National Party called for providing maximum facilities to Ziarat so that it could attract tourists.

Later, the house was prorogued.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2016