Pakistani province seems not so fond of tourism

PESHAWAR, Pakistan – Despite the tall claims of the Khyber Pakhtunhkwa government to promote tourism in the province, no allocation has been made for the tourism sector while the existing funds will mostly be spent in the ongoing projects of sports and archaeology.

As per the official documents, government has allocated Rs 1,325 million for total 54 projects, out of which 750 million for 31 ongoing schemes and 575 million for 23 new schemes in which there is no single scheme of tourism.

Most of the projects in the allocated amount are related to sports and few are related to archaeology. These projects include Establishment of Sports Complex at Kohat and Squash Complex at Peshawar, Feasibility and Improvement of Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium Peshawar, establishment of international standard indoor Gymnasium in District Nowshera.

Likewise Construction of 76 Jawan Markaz in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Up-gradation of Archaeological Complex Gor-Kuttree, artisan village and, Conservation of Peshawar Walled City, Acquisition of land for safeguarding and development of 11 archaeological Sites in Swat, establishment of Cultural Village and renovation of Nishtar Hall Peshawar and establishment of Water Sports facilities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In the above mentioned scheme there is no single scheme related to development of tourism sector most of them are related to sports and archaeology.

Thy Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is blessed with natural resources and tourism resorts but due to government negligence, no step has been taken for the promotion and development of this sector.

The scenic KalamValley presenting deserted looks as there is no proper road to attract tourists and those who are traveling through intricate routs frequently confronted with traffic incidents.

There are other tourist points in Upper Dir, Shangla and Buner areas, which need dire attention of Tourism department to explore it and establish rest houses to attract tourists from the far-off parts of the country, but unfortunately their work is only limited paper and they are spending the funds only for official tours.

Despite devolving of tourism department to the province, the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Hotels, which are now under the domain of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has not been handed over to the province.

The Bahrain Kalam road fall into politics when MPA Jaffer Shah and Ameer Muqam clashed with each other, both the leaders claimed to have got approved Rs480 million for restoration of the 36 kilometre road from Bahrain to Kalam.

For quite a long time, Shah has been active on social media claiming he has got the road approved by the National Highway Authority. He claims that the ANP senators in Islamabad have transferred their ‘discretionary’ funds for the said road upon his request.

On the other hand, Muqam claims that it was actually he who had convinced the National Highway Authority to sanction funds for the road.

When contacted, Jaffer Shah was not available for comments however his cousin told this scribe that both Muqam and Shah hold their own inauguration ceremony in the presence of NHA authorities but the work is still pending on the road and thus this important project fall into politics of PML-N and Awami National Party.

The Tourism Department also failed to establish rest houses and revamp picnic points in Kumrat Valley of Upper Dir where eye-catching sights are available for tourists. Similarly the road leading to tourist points in Chitral is in extremely ramshackle condition for which no allocation has been made in ADP.