MANSEHRA: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Department has sanctioned Rs530 million for carpeting of various roads leading to newly-explored tourist sites in Mansehra district.

“The provincial government wants to open more tourist spots in Mansehra and has sanctioned Rs530 million for construction of roads in Manoor and Kaghan valleys and other parts of the district,” CM’s adviser on population MPA Ahmad Hussain Shah told mediapersons in Garhi Habibullah on Sunday.

He said that promotion of tourism was one of major priorities of the government. He said that bumpy roads leading to tourist destinations in Kaghan valley, Manoor valley, Ghanool and Garhi Habibullah would be carpeted with these funds.

CM’s adviser says govt taking steps for promotion of tourism

Meanwhile, Wapda Oghi sub-division said in a statement that electricity supply to Darband feeder would remain suspended from 10am to 4pm on Monday (today), Jan 22 and 28 for repair of transmission lines.

GAS SUPPLY: The government would soon supply natural gas to Balakot and Garhi Habibullah in order to protect forests and environment there.

“The survey for laying pipelines to Balakot and Garhi Habibullah has been completed and work on this gas project would be started soon as the government wants to curb deforestation in the name of firewood,” said federal parliamentary secretary for water resources MNA Salah Mohammad Khan while speaking to a gathering after inaugurating a tree plantation campaign in Shinkiari on Sunday.

He said that forests were being chopped in remote parts of the district for firewood and the government wanted to bring this practice to an end.

SHOPS GUTTED: Three shops were gutted and goods worth over Rs2 million reduced to ashes here on Saturday night.

According to the affected traders, the fire started in a furniture shop and soon engulfed other shops in the market located on Shinkiari road.

The furniture and other goods in the shops were reduced to ashes.The affected traders, including Mohammad Adil, Mohammad Imran and Mohammad Amjid, said that had the fire engine reached in time the blaze could have been extinguished immediately. Mr Adil said that they didn’t know about cause of the fire.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2020