Following instructions from Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government has announced a plan to offer interest-free loans to young people living in the province’s popular tourist regions.
Zahid Chin Zai, the Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Tourism and Culture, shared that the initiative aims to involve local youth in the promotion of tourism under the leadership of Chief Minister Gandapur. The loans will be used by young residents to build or renovate rooms in their homes to accommodate tourists.
The first phase of this scheme will target areas such as Kalam in Swat, Kumrat in Upper Dir, Laram Top in Lower Dir, Upper and Lower Chitral, Galyat in Abbottabad, Kaghan, and Manshera. Chin Zai clarified that the loans will allow the local population to either expand their homes with extra rooms for tourists or refurbish existing structures for better accommodation.
The initiative is designed not only to create sustainable employment opportunities for the youth but also to enhance the tourism industry in these regions. This project is being implemented in partnership with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority and the Bank of Khyber, with a special focus on supporting women entrepreneurs.
The loan amount can go up to Rs 3 million for construction and renovation purposes. Recipients will be expected to offer high-quality services to tourists staying in the newly constructed rooms. The overarching goal is to empower the youth and support the growth of local tourism.
Applications for the loan scheme must be submitted by January 28, 2025.
In other news, the plains of Mansehra and northern regions have been experiencing continuous rainfall and snowfall over the past few days, resulting in a drop in temperatures. The heavy snowfall has affected areas like Naran, Battakundi, and Shugran in Kaghan Valley, where more than a foot of snow has accumulated in Naran and Battakundi, while Shogran has seen around four inches of snow. Additionally, approximately two inches of snow fell in Kaghan Bazaar, turning the area into a stunning winter landscape.
