K-P approves Thandiani tourism zone deal

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has formally approved and signed the concession agreement for the Thandiani Integrated Tourism Zone (ITZ) project, marking a significant milestone in the province's tourism development strategy.

This initiative, the first Integrated Tourism Zone in the country to be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, aims to transform Thandiani, a renowned healthful and scenic hill station, into a modern, eco-friendly tourism hub through private sector investment.

Chairing the ninth meeting of the PPP Committee, Chief Minister Afridi directed immediate progress on the project after signing the agreement with the private partner. He emphasized that the provincial government is actively pursuing former Prime Minister Imran Khan's vision of establishing tourism as a cornerstone of economic stability and growth.

"Integrated Tourism Zones represent flagship projects in the tourism sector, and their implementation must adhere strictly to environment-friendly principles," Afridi stated. He highlighted ongoing multi-dimensional efforts to fully harness Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's immense tourism potential.

A detailed briefing to the meeting revealed that the Thandiani ITZ spans 400 kanals and comprises four zones with three development packages. Tailored to meet the needs of tourists across all age groups, the project includes up to 14 potential tourism ventures, construction of three new hotels or condotels, and a total of 263 hotel and resort keys.