The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will launch a homestay initiative, “Maizban,” on December 15 to boost tourism in the province.
The decision was made during a Tourism Department meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. Advisor to the Chief Minister for Tourism Zahid Chan Zeb, Secretary of Tourism Bakhtiar Khan, DG KPCTA Tashfeen Haider, and representatives from relevant departments were in attendance. The meeting reviewed various aspects of the project’s implementation and made key decisions.
Initially, the project will be funded with Rs 395 million, offering interest-free loans of up to Rs 3 million to local homeowners in key tourist districts to provide quality accommodations for visitors. Residents interested in hosting tourists will build or renovate at least two rooms to meet department standards, providing essential facilities like bathrooms and kitchens. Initially, the project will be launched in the districts of Upper Chitral, Lower Chitral, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Mansehra, Abbottabad, and Swat. These loans, to be disbursed by the Bank of Khyber, will have a five-year repayment term, beginning in the second year after loan issuance.
Chief Minister Gandapur highlighted the tourism potential in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, noting that the project would increase provincial revenue and create local employment. He described homestay tourism as an ideal initiative to promote both tourism and the region’s hospitality culture. He directed officials to adhere to project timelines and make arrangements for roadside washrooms in tourist areas before the next tourism season.
The chief minister also emphasized expanding Tourist Facilitation Centers in tourist areas, stating that the provincial government is heavily investing in developing tourism as an industry. He stressed the importance of completing ongoing projects on time and promptly starting new ones, urging all stakeholders to fulfill their responsibilities.
T F C r there but always found locked .wash room r dirty/charging high.
But the photograph is of Hunza GB