Holding talks with TTP federal govt’s mandate: Saif

MINGORA: Adviser to Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif on Saturday said holding talks with the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was the mandate of the federal government.

However, he alleged that the federal government was busy maligning the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, adding a well-attended rally would be held on September 8 in Islamabad.

He was talking to reporters after inaugurating a hotel in Baghdherai area in Swat district.

Special Assistant for Industries, Commerce and Technical Education, Abdul Karim Tordher, Director (Business Facilitation) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment and Trade (KP-BoIT) Iqbal Sarwar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hotel, Abdul Mateen, government officials, investors and local notables attended the ceremony.

Barrister Saif maintained the elections for the president of Pakistan and chairman Senate were unconstitutional and illegal as one unit of the federation and members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly were not allowed to vote.

Barrister Saif said taking steps for the development of the country was their national and religious responsibility. He congratulated the investors and KP-BoIT for construction of the luxury hotel.

The CM’s aide said KP was facing a hard time from Waziristan to Swat. However, he said the Almighty Allah had taught us the skill to come out of the darkness.

He assured the people of Swat that the provincial government would spare no effort to support the hospitality industry and take steps to attract domestic and foreign tourists.

He said promoting tourism was the priority of the government to present the soft image of the country to the world besides strengthening the economy.

Abdul Karim Tordher appreciated the efforts of the KP-BoIT for making possible the huge investment of Rs700 million in the hotel industry of the province.

He said the board was cooperating with the investors during all phases of the project and expressed the hope that the hotel would provide high standard facilities to tourists to stay in Swat.

He termed it a big success towards the promotion of tourism and hotel industry in the region.

The special assistant said the government was facilitating the investors as KP-BoIT was supporting them in all phases of their businesses.

He said the promotion of its own resources for economic development was the vision of the government. He added the government was focusing on the uplift of all sectors of the economy and the tourism and hotel industry had huge economic potential.

Abdul Karim said Swat was the electricity corridor which in future would generate 600 megawatts hydel power and invited investors to invest in green investment.

Speaking on the potential of economic development of Swat, he said small scale industrial units would be established in the district suitable for tea cultivation to help meet the requirements of the commodity at the national level.