As an important development in tourism sector, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government has finalized the master planning and feasibility study for the establishment of four different Integrated Tourism Zones (ITZs) in a bid to develop tourist spots on international standards. These ITZs include Ghanool Mansehra, Mankiyal Swat, Madaklasht Chitral and Thandiyani Abbottabad. Master plan and feasibility study of ITZs were presented to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan in a meeting held here on Thursday. The chief minister, in principle agreed to the master plan which would soon be presented to World Bank for implementation. Briefing the meeting about these ITZs it was informed that Ghanool ITZ would be established on 480 Kanal, Mankiyal on 754 Kanal, Madaklasht on 540 Kanal whereas Thandyani ITZ would be established on 640 Kanal of land. It was further informed that these ITZs are expected to create 16 thousand direct and indirect job opportunities and to attract an investment worth USD 2.8 billion. It was decided in the meeting to present these ITZs projects in the upcoming Dubai Expo 2020 to attract foreign investment. The major components of the ITZs project include Roads, Path ways, tracks, Water Supply, Solid waste Management, Stable Supply of Electricity and infrastructure development. Additional Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Secretary Tourism Abid Majeed, Principal Secretary to CM Amjad Ali Khan and other relevant authorities attended the meeting.

Talking on this occasion, the chief minister said that there was a huge potential for the promotion of tourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the provincial government, in line with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan was working under the well planned strategy to develop tourism sector as a full fledge industry. He termed the completion of master planning for the establishment of ITZs as an important development and said that with the establishment of these ITZs, tourism sector of the province would be developed on modern and international standards. Mahmood Khan stated that government was not only committed but taking the result oriented step as well to create employment opportunities for local people and strengthen the provincial economy by promoting tourism activities and added that as a result of the government’s efforts around 2.7 million local and foreign tourists visited the tourist spots of the province during the current season resulting in various business activities to the tune of Rs. 66 billion in the province.