Jab valley gets eco-tourism push

WWF-Pakistan delegation visits Jab Valley, Hazara Waterfalls; eyes more projects

TAXILA:

A delegation of WWF-Pakistan and other relevant officials recently conducted a detailed visit to the scenic tourist areas of Jab Valley and Hazara Waterfalls in Khanpur tehsil.

Board members of WWF-Pakistan, WWF-Pakistan Director General Hamad Naqi, Senior Director Rab Nawaz, WWF Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Manager Naik Alam, other officials and the Hazara Region team inspected various completed and ongoing development projects and schemes in the area, undertaken with the support of donors.

The delegation reviewed the quality of the projects, construction work and facilities being provided, and received detailed briefings from the relevant personnel.

After reviewing the various projects, WWF officials expressed satisfaction with the quality of the ongoing work and termed it satisfactory. They said the projects initiated in the area with the support of donors were important for environmental protection, facilitating the local population and promoting tourism.

Speaking to The Express Tribune on the occasion, WWF officials said Jab Valley and Hazara Waterfalls were areas rich in natural beauty where further measures were needed to protect the environment and promote sustainable tourism.

They said the development projects being undertaken by WWF in the area aimed to provide basic facilities to the local population, protect the natural environment and promote tourism activities.

Officials further said efforts would continue to secure funding for further projects in the future, keeping the needs of the area in view, while environmentally friendly development initiatives would also be pursued.

The WWF officials and delegation were warmly received by local residents upon their arrival in Jab Valley. The locals briefed the delegation in detail about Jab Valley and Hazara Waterfalls, highlighting the area's natural beauty, tourism significance, needs of the local population and prospects for promoting tourism in the future.

The local residents appreciated the initiatives undertaken by WWF in the area and said the projects launched with the support of donors and WWF were providing facilities to the local population while also contributing to the promotion of tourism activities.

They expressed hope that further projects would also be approved for Jab Valley and Hazara Waterfalls in the future.