Meeting reviews projects progress: KDA directed to make Kaghan, Naran valleys more attractive for tourists

ABBOTTABAD: Hazara Commissioner Riaz Khan Mehsud has directed Kaghan Development Authority (KDA) to have a pragmatic approach to make the Kaghan and Naran valleys more attractive for national as well as international tourists.

Reviewing the progress on the KDA projects, the commissioner asked all the departments including

KDA for implementation of the initiatives for tourist attraction in the prescribed time.

Meeting held at the Commissioner’s Hazara office was attended by the Regional Police Officer, Mansehra deputy commissioner, Kaghan Development Authority director-general, Communication & Works department XEN, Fisheries deputy director, Kaghan District Forest Officer, National Highway Authority deputy director and other relevant departments.

The participants discussed the long-term activities which included construction of Batakundi Lalazar chairlift, funds for pony track at Kaghan, seven kilometres pony track from Saiful Maluk lake to Ansoo lake.

The commissioner directed all departments concerned to ensure the timely completion of all the projects. He asked the Mansehra deputy commissioner to strictly monitor long & short-term activities in the area.

The Environment Protection Agency officials discussed at length the progress in the light of the directions of the prime minister during his recent visit to Naran.

Earlier, the Kaghan Development Authority Director-General shared the latest progress about the short term and long-term measures which included removal of encroachments and illegal constructions along N15 and river bed, immediate steps to stop littering by the hotels and restaurants in Kunhar River, protection of National Parks in the valleys.

He also updated the participants on the traffic and parking management,

rehabilitation of Karakoram Highway and N-15 roads, grant-in-aid of 200 million to Kaghan Development Authority, transfer of forest wasteland, funds for the

establishment of walnut oil extraction mill, funds for tulip nursery, the establishment of the state of

the art rest areas at Malkandi and establishment of the school of fishing & aquatics.