K-P to offer interest-free loans to youth in tourist areas

Young residents of tourist areas to build rooms for visitors with government loans.

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On the directives of Chief Minister Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, the provincial government has decided to provide interest-free loans to young people residing in the province's popular tourist destinations.

Zahid Chin Zai, the Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Tourism and Culture, stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Gandapur, the youth would be actively included in the promotion of tourism.

The scheme will offer interest-free loans to young people in tourist areas to help them build or renovate rooms for tourists at their homes.

The first phase of the program includes areas such as Kalam Swat, Kumrat Upper Dir, Laram Top Lower Dir, Upper Chitral, Lower Chitral, Galyat Abbottabad, Kaghan, and Manshera.

Chin Zai explained that residents of these areas will use the loans to construct additional rooms for tourists or to renovate their homes to accommodate them.

The loan scheme aims to create a sustainable livelihood for the youth while promoting tourism in the region.

This initiative is being launched in collaboration with the Khybe-Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority and the Bank of Khyber. Women entrepreneurs will also be given priority in the scheme.

The Special Assistant further mentioned that loans of up to Rs 3 million will be provided for construction and renovation.

Loan recipients will be expected to ensure high-quality services for tourists staying in these newly built rooms. The overall goal of the project is to empower young people and boost local tourism.

The last date for submitting loan applications is January 28, 2025.

Meanwhile, the plains of Mansehra and northern areas are experiencing intermittent rainfall and snowfall over the past several days, due to which the intensity of the cold has increased.

Areas most affected by snowfall include Naran, Battakundi and Shugran areas of Kaghan Valley.

More than one foot of snow has fallen in the tourist destinations of Naran and Battakundi, while more than four inches have fallen in Shogran. Similarly, about two inches of snow was reported in Kaghan Bazaar.

Heavy snowfall in the upper areas has increased the intensity of the cold.

The mountains were transformed into a picturesque winter wonderland as Naran and its surrounding valleys were blanketed with a foot of snow, while Shogran and nearby areas received over five inches.