PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Monday approved the creation of 300 posts for the establishment of tourism police.

Initially tourism police will be deputed in five districts of the province including Swat, Upper Dir, Chitral, Abbottabad and Mansehra, according to a statement.

District level officers of the tourism police will be hired from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police on deputation whereas constables and other officials of the force will be recruited on initial basis.

A meeting of tourism department held here on Monday with Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in the chair was told that tourism police would function as a special wing of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Authority.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari attended the meeting on special invitation. Tourism Secretary Mohammad Abid Majeed, Special Secretary to Chief Minister Mohammad Khaliq, Additional Secretary of Tourism Junaid Khan and other relevant officials also attended the meeting.

The force will work initially in five districts as special wing of tourism authority

The meeting reviewed the progress so far made on various schemes launched in the province to boost tourism.

The meeting was informed that a law was enacted for transfer of government properties and rest houses to tourism department and outsourcing of the rest houses for revenue generation.

The meeting was told that the provincial cabinet approved the transfer of possession of 167 government rest houses to tourism department for further outsourcing to reputable investors to ensure their better utilisation. Similarly, consultancy services are being hired for the mapping of tourist sites and finalisation of marketing plan.

The meeting was informed that four sites were already identified for establishment of tourism zones in the province including Ghanool in Mansehra, Madaklasht in Chitral, Thandyani in Abbottabad and Mankyal in Swat whereas eight new sites were identified for the purpose that included Kalash valley in Chitral; Shahi and Bin Shahi in Lower Dir; Jaroga Fall, Piyah valley and Niyag Dara in Swat; Margozar, Mahabanr and Elum in Buner; and Sirin and Manoor valleys in Mansehra.

It was said that integrated tourism management plan was being prepared for Hazara and Malakand divisions under which various line departments would work together to boost tourism activities there.

Regarding the construction of access roads in tourists sites of the province, it was said that seven different projects were approved including construction of Thandiani road, Mankyal-Barha Sehrai road, Sheshikooh-Madaklasht road, Sopat valley road, Kalam-Kumrat road, Patrak-Kumrat road, Thall-Jazbanda road and access road to Shaikh Badin tourists spot in the province.

“A scheme of Rs167 million has been approved for boosting recreational and tourist activities at various dams of the province. Similarly, another scheme of Rs147 million has been approved for establishment of rest areas at various tourist sites of the province,” the meeting was told.

The meeting decided to launch an anti-encroachment campaign to remove illegal structures from tourist sites of the province.

The chief minister termed promotion of tourism sector as one of the top priorities of his government. He expressed the hope that as a result of these steps, the province would turn into a hub of both national and international tourism.

Appreciating the steps being taken by the provincial government to promote tourism, Zufiqar Bukhari stressed the need for launching a mass scale campaign to create awareness among tourists and local people about those initiatives.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2020