F.P. Report
Peshawar: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has said that that promotion of tourism as industry in the province is the ultimate target of provincial government.
This he said while talking to five member delegation of investors at his office on Friday. He said that his government is working to ensure easy access for local and foreigner tourists to the attractive and beautiful tourism sites. 20 new sites had already been identified in Chitral, Malakand and Hazara under the first 100 days agenda of provincial government.
CM told the delegation that 20 new sites of tourism were also located. Reconstruction and rehabilitation of access roads to these sites was also in progress. He said that that establishment of ski resorts at different tourism spots had already been discussed with Pakistan Air Force. A comprehensive policy was also formulated for speedy promotion of tourism in the province. Regulatory framework was also completed.
The Chief Minister on the request of investors, directed the quarter concerned to facilitate them for acquisition of land for establishing hotels at Peshawar and Swat. He also directed for a meeting with investors regarding development of different tourisms sites in the Province.
He made it clear that his government was fully focusing on the development of infrastructure, access roads and other facilities in the new and existing tourism sites of the Province. He said that his government will extend every possible support to the investors in this regard. He also underlined the need for visible progress in order to achieve the targets and said that accelerated development of tourism spots on industrial lines should be the first and final goal of concerned department. The government will provide all out support for the purpose, he concluded.
The head of delegation Henri W.R. Kennedie, President and CEO of Swiss International Hotels & Resorts revealed that they are already working on establishing luxury hotels at different cities of the province. In the first phase, hotels would be established at Peshawar and Swat while Mardan, Chitral and Malakand were included in the second phase of the plan. However the investors, on the proposal and desire of the chief minister also showed their keen interest for investment in the development of tourism spots.
