MANSEHRA: The government will spend Rs5 billion on infrastructure development in Mansehra district to promote tourism, senior minister for tourism AtifKhan said on Friday.

“The government wants to attract tourists to this picturesque district from within the country and abroad but that can happen only if infrastructure is developed,” the minister told reporters at Shinkiari Hut here.

Mr Atif had reached Mansehra on a four-day official visit on the prime minister’s orders.

He went to Shogran and other tourist destinations along with local government minister Shahram Khan Tarakai and PTI lawmakers.

The minister said he had been visiting Mansehra district to explore more and more tourist attractions.

He said the construction of roads and installation of chairlifts would promote tourism and thus, generating revenue for the government and employment opportunities for the residents.

The minister said the promotion of tourism would also improve the country’s soft image in the world.

He said food streets would be created in Balakot and Naran to offer traditional meals to visitors.

“We will build garbage dumping sites in Balakot and Naran, while a road will be put up to link the Mansehra, Naran and Jalkhad areas with Shogran,” he said.

The minister said Mansehra had high mountains, lush green meadows, serene valleys and snowcapped lakes and therefore, the government would introduce them all to visitors.

SENTENCED: A model court on Friday awarded life imprisonment and Rs500,000 fine to a man and his accomplice each for killing wife in the name of honour in Oghi last year.

Judge Ashfaq Taj convicted Mohammad Bashir and Abdul Waris

Convict Mohammad Bashir is the brother-in-law of the other convict, Abdul Waris.

The two had killed Mahrukh Jan in a forest.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2019