Officials directed to float ideas for boosting KP tourism

PESHAWAR: The officials of the Sports, Tourism, Culture, Archaeology, Museums and Youth Affairs Department have been tasked to float innovative ideas to initiate new projects for boosting tourism in the province and present a soft image of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the outer world.
Chairing a meeting of the staff attached formations of the department at Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) on Wednesday, the newly-posted Secretary Tourism, Sports, Culture, Archaeology, Museums and Youth Affairs Department Muhammad Azam Khan said that they should come forward with new ideas to launch projects. He said these projects should lead to promotion of sports, tourism, culture, heritage and archaeology in the province and abroad, and lead to economic welfare and employment opportunities in the province.
Additional Secretary Sports, Culture & Tourism Naeem Anwar Sadozai, TCKP Managing Director Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, Chief Planning Officer, Hayat Ali Shah, General Manager Administration & Properties Sajjad Hameed, Director General Sports & Youth Affairs Mian Adil, Director Archaeology Dr Abdul Samad, General Manager Tourist Information Centres Muhammad Ali Syed, Director Culture Mehmud Khan, In-charge Tourist Services Wing Arabi, Advisor to TCKP on Tourism Dr Ali Jan and Consultant Youth Tourism Programme Zahoor Durrani attended the meeting.
Secretary Azam Khan tasked all concerned to carry out research and prepare innovative ideas for the promotion of tourism and present them in the next meeting. He stressed the need for following merit and warned the violators of a strict disciplinary action. The secretary urged all concerned to avoid red tape in official work and perform duty devotedly.
“Coordinate with other departments including the Communication and Works Department to complete various schemes under the Annual Development Programme in time,” Azam Khan told the officials. He added that provision of basic infrastructure to the tourist spots was a key to promotion of tourism in the province.
He also called for finding and identification of new tourist resorts in every nook and corner of the province and make a plan to develop those scenic spots on modern lines and lure more tourists to the KP.
Earlier, the secretary was briefed on the ongoing projects and the schemes in the pipeline. He was apprised of certain problems and bottlenecks being faced in implementation of the relevant projects which were solved on the spot.
It may be mentioned here the department had earlier launched a number of projects for boosting tourism and developing culture and heritage when Azam Khan headed it in the past. He has served as political agent of South Waziristan and Kurram agencies, commissioner of Peshawar, secretary Home and Tribal Affairs Department and head of Sarhad Development Authority.