Ski resorts to be established in Kaghan

In order to promote skiing sports, the government has decided to establish ski resorts in Kaghan, Sawat and Chitral, said KP Government Cultural and Tourism Authority Spokesman Saad Khan.

He said four new hill stations, including one each in Abbottabad and Chitral besides two in Kaghan would be established. The spokesman said that the construction of four colonial-era tracks between Thandyani-Nathiagali having 8,200 feet height, Thandyani-Biringali track, Dagri Bangal-Meera Jan-Nathiagali track and Kaghan-Mahmnoor trak starting from Singkayari to Kund Bangla and onward to Shaheed Pani Nadai Bangla to Musa Ka Musllaha were in pipeline.

He stated that internationally, waterfalls were a huge tourist attraction and the government has decided to develop Lamchar, Sajkot, Noori, Chajjan Haripur, Jarogo Swat, Lanchar Dir and Umbrella Abbottabad waterfall on modern lines to bolster ecotourism.

Tourism will not grow with full potential unless we promote sustainable and planned tourism as per international practice," said Project Director, KP Integrated Tourism Development Project, Tauseef Khalid.

He said that to promote sustainable tourism, four Integrated Tourism Zones (ITZ) would be developed at Mankiyal Swat, Thandyani Abbottabad, Ganol Manshera and Madaklasht Lower Chitral. He added that these ITZs would be constructed with a loan grant of USD 70 million of the World Bank, and that its feasibility studies and master planning was in the final stages and practical work would launch soon after completion of all codel formalities.

Khalid said that ITZs Thandyani and Mankiyal would be connected with Swat and Hazara motorways through link roads that would open up entire Malakand and Hazara for tourists and make Pakistan a hub of international tourism.

The official shared that 44 memorandum of understanding worth USD 8 billion were signed between international firms and different departments of KP government during Dubai Expo 2022.

According to the official, about 130,915 tourists visited Malakand and Hazara divisions during three days' vacation of Eidul Azha. Out of these tourists influx, he said that 80 foreign tourists also arrived in these scenic divisions.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2022.