PESHAWAR: Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation and Provincial Housing Authority Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a housing society in the province at an estimated cost of Rs97 billion.

Moreover, the government has also decided to establish tourism authority to promote tourism as an industry.

The MoU was signed at Chief Minister Secretariat here on Wednesday, said an official statement. Under the plan, 15,500 grey structure houses of various sizes will be constructed by PHA Foundation over 8,500-kanal in Surizai area on Kohat Road.

The scheme will be completed within three years after its launch. Chief Minister Mahmood Khan was briefed about the initiative. The statement said that total cost of the land was Rs 1.03 billion.

MoU signed between PHA Foundation and Provincial Housing Authority for the purpose

The land has been procured whereas Rs32 billion will be provided by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for construction of boundary wall and Rs500 million will be provided for mobilisation. Estimated cost of the civil work is Rs14 billion. The housing society is located south of Peshawar city at a distance of 10 kilometres from N-55 Indus Highway on Main Canal Road Peshawar.

The statement said that the provincial government would construct approximately 10 kilometres dual carriageway along both sides of irrigation canal, starting from Zangali checkpost to the project site.

The project will consist of 31 mosques having an area of one kanal, 31 plots for schools having an area of two kanals, one college having an area of 10 kanals, 31 dispensaries having an area of one kanal each, one hospital having an area of 10 kanals, 31 neighbourhood parks of 10 kanals each, one grand park having an area of 100 kanals and a community centre having an area of 16 kanals.

The MoU signing ceremony was also attended by Federal Minister for Housing Chaudhry Tariq Bashir Cheema, Provincial Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai, Adviser to Chief Minister on Merged Areas Ajmal Wazir and senior officials of the departments concerned.

TOURISM: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has decided to establish tourism authority to promote tourism as an industry.

Chairing a meeting on promotion of tourism here, he discussed many measures that could help to promote tourism as an industry and setting up Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Authority was one of the important decisions of the provincial government to synergise government efforts in promotion and development of tourism sector in the province, said a statement.

The meeting also discussed outsourcing the devolved assets of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation and developing hotels to boost tourism.

The chief minister directed to the finance department to release funds for establishment of Kaghan Development Authority within next two weeks. He also directed the department concerned to appoint a director general of Kaghan Development Authority.

The chief minister also approved Rs500 million for home cities project at scenic tourist spots. He was informed that initially such a project would be initiated on experimental basis at three tourist spots.

The chief minister also approved Rs 700 million for establishment of tourism police. He was informed that around 500 personnel would be working as tourism police force in the province.

The chief minister also approved Rs500 million for promotion and publicity of tourist destinations to boost tourism in the province and attract tourists.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2019