GILGIT, March 29: Peace was a pre-requisite for the development of the tourism industry of the Northern Areas, said Northern Areas deputy chief executive Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan

He was speaking at the opening of the Spring Blossom Festival in Aliabad, Hunza, 100km north of Gilgit, on Monday.

He said the tourism industry had suffered severe setbacks after 9/11, and the local sectarian strife had added to the problem. The situation had made it difficult to think about the promotion of tourism, he added.

He said Hunza Valley had earned immense reputation for its tourism potential in Pakistan and abroad, and expressed the hope that it would soon be rehabilitated.

The deputy chief executive held out assurance that he would get approval Rs20 million for Degree College Aliabad and Rs2.5 million for the extension of the college playground and its boundary wall.

Mir Ghazanfar Khan said measures were being taken to overcome power crisis in Hunza Valley.

He said he had invited Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to Hunza and this would be helpful to promote tourism in the region.

OFFICIALS RETURNED: The Karakoram International University Gilgit has returned three of its officials to the Northern Areas education department after completion of their deputation period.

Sources said the dean faculty of sciences and former acting vice-chancellor Dr Muhammad Saleem, treasurer Mir Ahmad Khan and acting registrar Muhammad Hussain have been returned to the education department after completing their deputation tenure. They had joined the varsity in 2003 from the defunct Postgraduate College Gilgit.