The provincial government would initiate new projects for promoting tourism, developing areas with an abundance of natural beauty in the province, Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Ameer Haider Khan Hoti said on Tuesday. He was talking to provincial Minister for Sports and Tourism Aqil Shah here in his office.
Stressing the need for providing healthy recreation and sports facilities to youth, the chief minister said that it was vital for defeating extremism, adding that generous funds were being spent on developing and renovating sports grounds and other such facilities.
Provincial Secretary for Sports and Tourism Syed Jamal ud Din attended the meeting. He said that the installation of floodlights in the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium would start in the next financial year.
Matters relating to the pace of ongoing schemes in tourism and sports sectors and initiation of new schemes in forthcoming annual development programme were discussed in detail during the meeting. The chief minister said that the province was blessed with an abundance of natural beauty, and tourism had a central role in the stability of the province's economy.
He issued orders for finalising new schemes for promoting tourism to be included in the forthcoming ADP. The chief minister was also informed about the tourism department's future schemes. He praised the department's efforts for arranging festivals in various areas. Meanwhile, provincial Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development Sitara Ayaz also called on the chief minister at his office.