ABBOTTABAD: Participants of a Kashmir Institute of Management Muzaffarabad course visited the divisional headquarters of Hazara administration as part of their “inland study tour” and learned about the ongoing administrative reforms and development projects.

Deputy commissioner Khalid Iqbal welcomed AJK officers on the premises.

Additional deputy commissioner Jibril Raza briefed participants of the institute’s Sixth Professional Planning and Management Course about the administrative structure of Hazara division.

The DC highlighted the division’s geography, health, education and revenue sectors, major hydropower projects, and administrative reforms, including the start of one-window operation and computerisation of land records.

He also informed visitors about the city improvement project, drinking water supply, the solid waste management system, construction of pedestrian paths in markets, and development of parks and a dumping site.

Mr Iqbal said the opening of Thandiani Road would offer new opportunities for the development of tourism in the region. He said the administration was taking all possible measures to promote tourism.

The DC said the construction of the Havelian-Langra Bypass Road addressed traffic issues and boosted tourist activities in Abbottabad city.

He said authorities were providing all possible facilities to visitors to Galiyat and Thandiani.

Mr Iqbal also highlighted the issues of growing population, unplanned construction, illegal housing societies, unlawful mining, deforestation, and measures by the administration to address them.

The visitors were also briefed about the plans to supply clean drinking water to people and measures against urban flooding.

They also visited the district resource and communication centre.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2023