Tourism police to be operationalised soon: TCKP

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: The tourism police in Khyber Pakthunkhwa will be operationalised soon after Eidul Fitre to facilitate foreign and domestic tourists in exploration of the God gifted natural beauties of the province in professional way.

Tourism police, in the first phase, are being raised for famous tourists’ destinations Galyat- Thandyani Abbottabad, Swat, Chitral and Naran-Kaghan Manshera and later its services would be extended to other districts of the province, said Sajjad Hameed, General Manager Properties and Administration, KP Tourism Corporation (TCKP) while talking to APP on Sunday.

He said TCKP was in constant touch with Home Department and KP Police to provide top policemen to serve in TCKP police for upcoming summer season, and that in later stage TCKP will have its own police.

The flow of domestic and foreign tourists has increased after restoration of law and order situation and launching of new online visa policy and tourism police is need of the hour.

Special counters would be setup at Bacha Khan International and other airports in KP for facilitation of tourists in wake of the online visa policy of the Federal Govt, he said.

TCKP police will coordinate with relief organisations including RESCU 1122 and other departments for tourists’ safety besides helping them in case of emergencies and natural calamities. He said tourism police would provide proper training on the pattern of Tailand tourism police.

He said tribal districts have immense potential for tourism keeping in view presence of thousands of relics, tourism and holly sites of Buddah era and historic locations of British peroid and efforts are being made to develop its all tourists’ sites by connecting it with rest of the country through enhanced railway and roads network.

Ministry of Railways has been formally approached by TCKP for repair of British-era Khyber Pass railway track built in 1925 to restart the Khyber Safari stream train to explore tourism in tribal districts.

The track started from Peshawar up to Landi Kotal, the border point in Khyber tribal district, after passing through rugged mountainous terrain reaching a height of 1,200 meter and covering a total distance of 52 kilometers through 34 tunnels and 92 bridges and culverts.

“We are ready to open tourists’ rest houses in unutilised buildings situated within the premises of Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners in all tribal districts if allowed by the government,” he said.

Groups tours would be arranged for scenic Tirah valley in Khyber, Razmak and Shawal valleys in North Waziristan in the upcoming summer season to explore natural beauties of the merged tribal districts.

Establishment of first ever Tourism Authority has been approved by KP cabinet that will look after tourism related activities and implementation of projects on ground.

The authority would be presided over by Chief Minister KP with key members are Tourism Minister and Chief Secretary KP besides officials from Local Government and Communication Department to ensure infrastructure and cleanliness in all tourists’ spots.

He said 20 new tourists sites mostly in Hazara and Malakand divisions were identified that would be developed in line with international tourism standards. It would reduce load on existing tourists’ sites like Nathia Gali, Naran, Kaghan, Mallam Jabba and Kalam.

Sajjad said KP government has been requested to handover 157 rest houses, which were still in the administrative control of other departments for promotion of tourism and provide inexpensive accommodations to tourists.

He said rehabilitation of tourist spots including renovation of ancient buildings and monuments under Heritage Trail projects including Gor Khatri and Sethi House in Peshawar were completed.

Under Cultural Heritage Trail Peshawar project, 500 meters long trail from ancient Ghanta Ghar to Gor Gathri has been renovated including centuries-old buildings, houses and shops besides establishment of a food street, new lights, benches, electricity and telephone wires etc were installed underground, which restored the original grandeur of Peshawar being home to 2000 years old civilizations.

The project has refurbished facade or outer appearances of 85 heritage buildings and structures of Mughal, British and Sikh period with a cultural and historical touch without compromising on its original art and architectural work.

The GM TCKP said five Camping Pods were established at Thandyani Abbottabad, Shahikh Badeen DI Khan, Shahran Manshera, Bishigram Swat and Yakhtangi Shangla that would expend tourism and reduce load on established tourists resorts in the province.