PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has stressed the need for transforming Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into a tourist hub for the entire country.

According to a statement, he was addressing a meeting regarding KP Tourism Act. Minister for Tourism Mohammad Atif Khan, Minister for Finance Taimoor Saleem Jhagra, Minister for Law Sultan Mohammad Khan and other high ranking officials attended the meeting.

The meeting was informed that a total of 20 tourist spots were identified in the province so far that would be converted into tourist zones under the law for promotion of tourism in the province.

The tourist zones will slowly be extended to the newly merged districts for maintenance of healthy atmosphere there after decades of insurgency and creation of livelihood opportunities.

The chief minister directed the inspector general of police to conclude the training of tourism police till June. The tourism police will be selected from among the existing force and will be imparted training with the help of Thailand Tourism Authority.

Minister Atif Khan informed the meeting that the draft tourism bill was prepared as per the directives of chief minister and would be presented in the assembly soon for final approval.

The chief minister said that all facilities would be made available in the tourist zones including international standard hotels, green belts, sport grounds and jeep tracks. He directed the officials to establish tourist zones in Gabeen Jabba, Daral Lake valley, Mankyal valley, Boyon valley, Kandal and Izmis Lake in Swat and Bir Mughalaght valley and Golain in Chitral and Pir Gali area in Buner.

The chief minister said that the tourist spots would be connected with Dir district and soon an entire tourism network would be established in the province. He added that every effort would be made to increase tourism-related activities that would not only help in generating revenue but would also promote the peaceful narrative of Pakistan internationally.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2019