Rawalpindi admin approves tourism master plan
The tourism department has now planned to prevent illegal construction of hotels and buildings without prior seismic study. PHOTO: FILE
The district administration has approved the tourism express master plan, which will be a signal-free road from Kalar Syedan and Azad Kashmir with multiple vista points.
Under the project, land up to 220 feet along the 123-kilometres route between both points will only have multi-storey commercial constructions.
The high-altitude spots including Panj Pir rocks will be used as scenic viewpoints to view Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) border with India, Mangla Dam, and Islamabad. These viewpoints will be upgraded for visitors and their green areas improved.
The tourism highway project will cost Rs4.4 billion and its approval was given in a meeting held under Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Chairman Tariq Murtaza.
Read More: Security for tourism
The RDA chairman confirmed that the high-altitude spots on the tourism highway will be used as vista points for viewing the Pakistan-India border in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). He said all such points will be beautified and upgraded under the project. He added that other spots, including Mangla and Rawal dams and Islamabad, can also be viewed from the high-altitude spots.
He said that all such spots will be opened to the public in March next year and a big festival organised to mark the opening.
The RDA chairman said that construction of multi-storey commercial buildings will be allowed along the highway which will generate employment. The project will increase the value of lands of private owners besides leading to an increase in business for the hotel industry, he said, adding that the foundation stone of the project will be laid soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th, 2021..