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Thursday March 28, 2024

Imran for promotion of tourism, preservation of archaeological sites

To check quarterly progress report of all depts

By our correspondents
January 29, 2015
PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports, Tourism, Archaeology, Museums and Youth Affairs Department to devise short and long-term projects for the promotion of tourism and preservation of archaeological sites in the province.
“There is a dire need to construct accommodation in or near the tourist spots and archaeological sites in line with eco-friendly and conservation principles to attract more tourists and visitors to the scenic valleys and historical sites in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said at a briefing in Bani Gala, Islamabad.
According to a press release, Advisor to KP Chief Minister on Sports, Tourism, Archaeology, Museums and Youth Affairs Amjad Afridi, Secretary Aftab Akbar Durrani, Additional Secretary Humayun, Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) Managing Director Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, Director Archaeology & Museums Dr Abdul Samad, TCKP General Manager Administration and Properties Sajjad Hameed, TCKP Advisor Dr Ali Jan attended the briefing.
Imran Khan said he had now focused all the energies on the development of KP and would check a quarterly progress report of all the provincial government departments in the province.
Dr Abdul Samad, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan and Humayun Khan briefed the PTI chief on various projects. Imran Khan was also apprised of the progress about the individual directorates and corporation along with its achievements in planning both short and long-term projects.
The officials said Imran Khan appreciated the efforts of the department and announced to visit Gor Khattri and Sethi House next month, as he had heard a lot about them. They said the PTI chairman stressed the need for building hotels, rest houses, youth hostels in or near the tourist spots and archeological sites like Hund, Takht Bhai and Malam Jabba to facilitate the tourists.
During the briefing, Imran Khan said that he planned to reattach the Culture Directorate back with its sister department e.g. Sports, Tourism, Archaeology, Museums & Youth Affairs.The TCKP managing director said the corporation had undertaken several initiatives to promote the soft image of the province.
Director Archaeology & Museums Dr Abdul Samad said the walled city of Peshawar is very rich and should be preserved. “There are many stakeholders here like Auqaf and Local Government which should come under the control of Archaeology Department. A summary has been put up to renovate the walled city to revive its glorious past,” he added.Imran Khan said he planned to reattach the Culture Directorate back with its sister department e.g. Sports, Tourism, Culture, Archaeology, Museums & Youth Affairs.