NEELUM Valley: Chief Secretary AJK Mr. Mian Wahid Din visited picnic point of district Neelum AJK “Rati Gali” to explore the tourism potential, challenges faced by tourists, observe facilities at spot and to address reservations of local community here on Sunday. Secretary Information, Tourism and IT Mrs. Midhat Shahzad, Secretary Local Government Mr. Mansoor Qadir Dar, Secretary Forest Mr. Gilani, Chief Conservator Forest Mr. Abdul Rauf Quraishi, Director General Tourism and district administration were also present.
Chief Secretary called on top officials to address reservations raised by local community at Rati Gali and said that It is government top priority to promote entrepreneurship at local level and create employment for local community through tourism so that they can raise their living standards; however the government wants to make sure to preserve natural beauty of tourist spots and will ensure protection of environment. The land of Rati Gali shall not be allotted on lease. The government will provide every possible facility that will not effects environmental protection.
For safe and sound journey across mountainous picnic spot Chief Engineer for Roads briefed about feasibility of renovation of 16 KM road from village Dawarian to proposed base camp Domelan and to build retaining/protection walls to avoid accidents. 2 kilometers pedestarian tracks and mule tracks will be made from base camp to picnic spot to protect environment.
Director General Tourism briefed about proposed mechanism and Tourism department will engage local community and district administration to facilitate tourists with standard facilities such as, seating benches, umbrellas, dust bins, waste management, public toilets and photography spots will be installed. Chief Conservator Forest Mr. Abdul Rauf briefed about the tourist spots of district Neelum comes under International Treaties of “Wet Lands protection” and “Biodiversity Protection” where as the responsibility lies on government to ensure the treaties by protecting forests, tree plantation and environmental protection. He proposed the concept of eco tourism through local community participation and installing base camp 3KM prior to picnic spot to ensure environmental protection.
