Ghanool (Mansehra), Mankyal (Swat), and Madaklasht (Lower Chitral) have been named as integrated tourism zones by the KP government (ITZs).
The approval came during the inaugural meeting of the Provincial Tourism Strategy Board on Tuesday, which was chaired by Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan, according to a handout. For ultimate approval, the item would be referred to the provincial government.
The meeting was attended by Provincial Cabinet members Taimur Saleem Jhagra and Ishtiaq Urmar, Chief Secretary Shehzad Bangash, Additional Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah administrative secretaries, and others.
The forum was informed that Ghanol ITZ would consist of an area of 489 Kanal whereas Mankyal and Madaklasht would consist of 450 Kanal and 500 Kanals of land, respectively.
It was added that Section-4 has been imposed on the land identified for the newly approved ITZs and the land acquisition process had been started.
The officials said a suitable site had been identified at Thandiani in Abbottabad district, adding that after codal formalities the site would be declared as ITZ.
The participants were informed that master plans of the ITZs had been prepared, and in the next phase, management plans would be prepared for these zones. It added that these zones would be presented at Dubai Expo to attract foreign investment.
The chief minister has directed that regulations for the aforementioned ITZs be developed within the next two months and submitted to the chief minister for approval.
