ABBOTTABAD, Nov 12: The provincial tourism department will soon introduce a special package with multipurpose benefits for tourists.

This was stated by provincial tourism, culture and sports secretary Syed Jamaluddin while addressing as the chief guest during the inaugural ceremony of National Institute of Tourism, Hospitality & Hotel Management Sciences (NITHHMS) here on Monday.

The secretary said work plan had been finalised for the development of tourist spots in Batakundi (Naran-Kaghan area), while 15 kanals of land had been acquired near Saiful Muluk Lake for tourist spot.

He said the department would develop 10 ‘rest areas’ along the roadside in tourist areas during the current fiscal for which for which five spots had already been identified from Abbottabad to Naran-Kaghan.

Mr Jamaluddin said the government had focused full attention on the infrastructure development in Hazara and Malakand divisions and had already begun many projects in the field on public-private partnership basis.

He said Pakistan Austrian Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management, which was established with the cooperation of the Austrian government in Swat, had shown remarkable progress over the years.

The secretary expressed the hope that hotels and restaurants would get trained manpower, which would lead to the promotion of the tourism industry.

He said beside adventure tourism, efforts were being made to promote religious tourism, too.

LAID TO REST: Former Dawn, Islamabad staffer Ahmad Hassan’s mother was laid to rest at her native village in Balakot on Monday.

The funeral prayer was attended by the people from different walk of life, including journalists, in large numbers.