PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has said that the issue of national park in Kumrat valley, Upper Dir will be resolved according to the wishes of the local community.

He said that the local community would be given more representation in the proposed project. He added that the government would protect their rights.

The chief minister said that government would promote tourism in Kumrat and the local community would be taken on board. The money earned from tourism in Kumrat would be reutilised in the area on commercial lines.

The chief minister directed the deputy commissioner of Upper Dir to sit with the residents of Kumrat and sort out the issue of national park according to their wishes.

The chief minister held a meeting with 18-member delegation of Upper Dir regarding the park issue at Chief Minister Secretariat, Peshawar. The delegation included MNA Sahibzada Shibghatullah, MPA Inayatullah, MPA Sahibzada Sanaullah and MPA Bacha Saleh.

The delegation briefed the meeting about the reservations of the local people regarding the issue of park in Kumrat.

The chief minister said that government would promote tourism in the province. He said that government would indentify tourist spots in the province and develop the same for bringing economic stability.

Mr Khan said that tourism in Kumrat would be promoted with the cooperation and support of local people. He said that demands of local people would be accepted. He added that road and other development projects would be initiated in Kumrat.

The chief minister said forests in Kumrat would be protected at any cost He said that promotion of tourism would improve living standard of the people of Kumrat.

He assured the delegation that rights of the local community would be protected.

Meanwhile, the chief minister here on Sunday agreed in principle to evolve a “skill endowment fund” to develop skilled manpower that would help to create opportunities of employment for youngsters as well as fulfill needs of the market.

He was chairing a meeting that discussed in detail the demand-and-supply situation of skilled labour in the market. The meeting also discussed exploration and development of mines and minerals in the province.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2019