Boosting business: Malam Jabba to boast new tourist resort

Ski, chairlift and hotel to be constructed according to MoU signed by govt.

PESHAWAR: Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Samson Group of Companies (SGC) for the development of a new tourist resort, ski/chairlift and hotel project in Malam Jabba, in Swat.

CM Pervez Khattak, his adviser on tourism Amjad Afridi, secretary tourism Muhammad Azam Khan, TCKP MD Mushtaq Ahmad Khan and other officials were present at the occasion at Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa house, Islamabad.



Under the MoU, SGC will work for the promotion of tourism on the terms and conditions agreed upon by TCKP and the K-P Board of Investment and Trade, under the leadership of the K-P government.

The TCKP said a 33-year lease, extendable for another 20 years, has been awarded to SGC after it emerged as the highest bidder in the auction.

The lease is Rs12 million per annum which will increase at the rate of 10% each year, during the initial 33 years. A maximum of 25% increase shall be charged upon further extension. However, the first two years of the construction phase will be without increment.

Under the MoU a 4 or 5 star hotel comprising 60 rooms—with 20-30 rooms offering  3 star facilities—with a health club and conference halls will be constructed. A ski resort and a dual-purpose chairlift for skiers and general tourists will also be installed. Land will be provided by the K-P government.

Speaking to the media, the TCKP MD said, “Huge losses to revenue were suffered when the previous ski resort was destroyed by militants.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2014.