Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ameer Haidar Khan Hoti has stated that on the one hand the government is confronting militancy while on the other it is investing in projects of productive sectors including Hydel power, oil and gas, industry and tourism for increase in the earning of the province.
Addressing an inaugural ceremony of Abasin Ferry Services under the auspices of Tourism Corporation, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at Kund Rest House on Saturday, he said that tourism sector was badly affected due to terrorism during the past few years and current flooding in the province. He said that the government was committed to review basic structure of tourism.
This service will provide tourists with opportunity of enjoying tour of river Kabul and Indus River. He said the province has enormous tourism potential and there are several places that will attract national and international tourists after development.
Provincial Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussein, Provincial Minister for Sports Syed Aqil Shah, Member Provincial Assembly Shagufta Malik, Secretary Sports Azam Khan and large number of river safari enthusiast - both male and female, were present.
The chief minister lauded the efforts of Minister for Tourism Syed Aqil Shah and his team for initiating project like Abbasin River Safari that would initially have two ferries - Yusuf Khan and Sherbano, the prominent characters of old Pashto folklore romance. He said now the government is focusing on productive side in order to boost up the life standard of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that greatly suffered due to militancy and insurgency.
"We will continue to fight terrorism," he added. Earlier, Aqil Shah in his address highlighted the aim and objective of the government that have so far taken in promoting tourism. He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has great potential of tourism. He said soon the people would see a big change because such potentials needed to explore in appropriate manners. The chief minister also visited the small photo museum set up in the Kund Rest House along with a ride in the ferry before the facility was formally inaugurated for the general public.