PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) is implementing the ‘Adventure Tourism Development Project’ to promote adventure tourism in province.
Under this initiative, adventure tourism training centres have already been established in the Chitral and Swat valleys. These centres offer various forms of adventure training and guidance for the public, as well as training sessions for local communities covering activities such as mountaineering, trekking, camping, rock climbing, ice skating, skiing, and snowboarding.
In line with the tourism vision and under the special directives of Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi and Special Assistant for Tourism and Culture Malik Adeel Iqbal, the provincial government is taking priority measures to promote tourism in the province. Under the supervision of Shahid Khan Mohmand, DG KPCTA, the Authority is working on various tourism projects.
Talking to Business Recorder, an official of the KPCTA said that their aim is to foster safe and sustainable tourism in the province, thereby creating tourism opportunities while safeguarding the sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - a region richly endowed with natural beauty. Alongside ensuring the safety of the tourism sector, opportunities for tourism should be created here.
The KPCTA is working on promotion of tourism and provision of excellent facilities to visitors heading to its tourists’ destinations. Work is proceeding rapidly on various projects, including the development of new sites and the creation of fresh tourism opportunities.
Under the supervision of Director General Shahid Khan Mohmand, the Authority is executing several projects—such as the construction of jeep tracks at three locations: Thal to Jahaz Banda (Upper Dir), Ayun to Bumburet (Lower Chitral), and Laram Sar to Asoo Kandao (Upper Dir) aimed at facilitating tourist access to these areas and opening new destinations for visitors.
The KPCTA has established Pakistan’s first tourism helpline, 1422, to ensure the provision of immediate assistance, information access, and information dissemination for tourists visiting the Hazara and Malakand divisions. Operating around the clock, the helpline has assisted hundreds of thousands of tourists to date, while also facilitating the resolution of complaints, the provision of timely services, and emergency response.
In line with the provincial government’s vision to empower the youth; both men and women the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority launched a tourism-focused initiative. With the collaboration of the Bank of Khyber, this program provides interest-free loans for a five-year term to individuals located in key tourist destinations, including Swat, Chitral, Dir, Mansehra, and Abbottabad.
In the first phase, loans have already been granted to over 100 individuals who are either constructing two additional rooms on their own land or renovating existing rooms to accommodate tourists. These facilities will offer visitors not only lodging but also a home-like atmosphere and quality meals. The provincial government is providing loans of up to Rs. 3 million to the beneficiaries of this scheme.
The authority is working on a scheme to provide various facilities for tourists at the province’s small dams, including Tanda Dam (Kohat), Jahangra (Abbottabad), Jalozai (Nowshera), Sanam Dam (Lower Dir), and Zeebi (Karak). The tourist areas at these dams feature amenities such as prayer spaces (mosques), restrooms for men and women, information desks, designated seating areas, vehicle parking, tuck shops, and security guard rooms.
The authority is also working on a scheme to establish tourist facilitation centers at nine different locations across the province, including Bassian (Mansehra), Booni (Upper Chitral), Landakai (Malakand), Salhad (Abbottabad), Harnoi (Galyat), Raisan (Hangu), and others. These centers will provide tourists with amenities such as rooms, a mosque (prayer area), restrooms, information desks, car parking, tuck shops, security guard rooms, seating areas, and other facilities.
To provide various facilities for tourists at six different water-falls across the province; including Sajikot (Abbottabad), Umbrella Waterfall (Abbottabad), Jarogo (Swat), Laramchar (Upper Dir), Kumrat (Upper Dir), and Chhajian (Haripur).
Amenities to be provided at these sites include prayer areas, restrooms for men and women, information desks, seating areas, car parking, tuck shops, security guard rooms, and other facilities. It also develops picnic spots for tourists at 16 different locations across the province, where various amenities will be provided. These tourist sites include Khushal Garh (Kohat), Bado Ziyarat (Kohat), Bona Sharif (Kohat), Chashma Jangal Khel (Kohat), Indus Water Bank (Dera Ismail Khan), Jamal Garhi (Mardan), Takht-i-Bahi (Mardan), Jabban (Malakand), Bahrain (Swat), Karakar (Buner), Dilgah (Kumrat), Garm Chashma (Lower Chitral), Sarlaspur (Upper Chitral), and other locations.
To promote adventure tourism this year, the KPCTA will organize various events including a high-altitude expedition to summit Swat’s famous Falak Sar peak and training sessions at its base camp along with trekking activities and awareness campaigns.
Under this initiative, three distinct trekking activities will be conducted, including the summiting of Falak Sar; the objective is to foster adventure tourism in the Swat Valley, mirroring the status of Chitral’s Tirich Mir peak.
The Tourism Police; established by the KPCTA as the first force of its kind in Pakistan’s history was initially deployed in the Malakand and Hazara divisions.
Dedicated to assisting visitors, the force has provided a wide range of services to hundreds of thousands of tourists, including first aid, flood relief, emergency assistance at tourist sites, and general support. They also play a vital role in addressing and resolving issues tourists face, such as disputes with tour operators. To strengthen the force and ensure timely communication, the KPCTA has provided wireless sets, thereby facilitating rapid response and efficient assistance to tourists.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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