MUZAFFARABAD, Feb 3: The AJK tourism department has asked the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Bank (AJKB) to vacate its building located along the state capital's bustling thoroughfare within one month, it has been learnt.

The tourism department had handed over the building to the AJKB under the directives of the then government in August 2005 and shifted its own offices, including the tourist information centre, to a rented building off the main road.

However, following the change of government, incumbent Minister for Tourism, Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Mohammad Tahir Khokhar is reported to have taken serious stock of the situation, directing the department to reclaim its building at the earliest.

The department has served a one-month notice on the BoK management to vacate its building, according to official sources.

When contacted, the minister confirmed that the bank had been asked to leave the building which, he said, it had been occupying without any payment of rent.

“AJK's progress is linked to development of tourism in the region. But, unfortunately this sector has received negligible importance in sharp contrast to the avowals of the previous governments in this regard,” the minister said.

He regretted that the tourism department was forced to shift its office and information centre to an off-route location, overlooking its impact on development of tourism. He said shifting of tourism department had also caused great inconvenience to the tourists arriving in the town. He said he had also sent a summary to the prime minister in this regard.