KP Announces Rs. 500 Million Tourism Package for Hazara Division

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has announced Rs. 500 million for the promotion of tourism in Hazara Division, with a focus on identifying new tourist destinations in Kolai-Palas and Alai.

The announcement was made during a meeting chaired by the chief minister to review development projects, law and order, governance, and service delivery in Hazara Division.

Afridi said additional funds would also be allocated to further strengthen the tourism sector in the region. He directed the relevant authorities to ensure quality facilities and proper hospitality for both domestic and foreign tourists, saying that visitors play an important role in promoting a positive image of the province.

The chief minister also ordered special traffic management plans for tourist destinations and directed authorities to remain on high alert during the monsoon season by implementing contingency plans without delay.

During the meeting, Afridi ordered the formation of a commission to permanently resolve the boundary dispute between Chor Mali Valley and Balej Valley in Kolai-Palas and Battagram.

Emphasizing better governance, he directed district administrations to improve public engagement through open forums with the involvement of elected representatives.

“Our performance should be measured by public satisfaction, not presentations,” Afridi said.

Officials briefed the meeting that 139 development projects are currently underway in Hazara Division under the Annual Development Programme. They also informed the chief minister that 1,879 out of 2,111 complaints received through the Pakistan Citizen Portal have been resolved, while more than 100 open public forums have been held under the provincial government’s open-door policy.

The meeting was further informed that land records in Abbottabad and Battagram have been fully digitized, while digitization has reached 97 percent in Haripur and 90 percent in Mansehra.