CM orders development of tourist destinations

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has directed for preparation of overall development plan on the 114 kanal land in Ayubia, outsourcing modernisation of Ayubia chairlift and tendering of Theme Adventure Park in Nathiagali in collaboration with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment and Trade.

He issued the directives while presiding over a meeting at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Sunday, said an official handout.

Administrative secretaries of Planning and Development, Finance, Power and Local Government Departments, officials of Board of Investment and Trade, and managing director of Information Technology attended the meeting.

The chief minister said the government was interested in rapid development of tourist spots. “Commercialisation is not the only option for development of tourism rather government’s priority is to provide maximum facilities to the tourists,” he added.

The participants of the meeting were apprised about the pace of progress on the Ayubia chairlift, Theme Adventure Park, Malam Jabba Road, Naran chairlift and other developmental schemes.

Pervez Khattak stressed the need for development of Ayubia chairlift along modern lines to make the facility attractive for the tourists. He said the complete designing should be outsourced.

Regarding Naran chairlift, it was informed that the scheme was tendered in June, last year by the Board of Investment & Trade in collaboration but physical work could not be initiated due to heavy snowfall. The chief ministered directed re-tendering inclusive of allied facilities such as parking facilities, etc.

He asked about the pace of progress on the Beijing Road Show Memorandum of Understanding and directed tendering of all such schemes with the cooperation of Board of Investment and Trade.

The chief minister approved establishment of a joint office of Board of Investment, KP Economic Zones Development and Management Company, Information Technology Board and Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation in Islamabad to facilitate investors.