“Says agriculture department should encourage people to grow more flowers, plants”
MUZAFFARABAD: (Parliament Times) Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to take special measures for promotion of tourism in the State.
A high level meeting, headed by Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan here on Wednesday decided that these measures would be taken to beautify all the entry points of the State. Different plants, flowers and fruit trees would be grown in the upper and lower areas of the State, keeping in view of their climate, it urged.
“Gardens of flowers, local fruits and handicrafts would be promoted in tourist destinations like Neelum Valley, Rawalakot, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Jhelum Valley, Bhimber and Kotli. Kashmiri Food festivals will be held at picnic resorts” it stressed.
The meeting was informed that special targets had been set for tourism, forests and agriculture departments for next year. It was further informed that services of international consultants to promote the fruit tree industry and to beautify different areas had been hired. These consultants have prepared a detailed report and recommended planting of plants of different kinds keeping in view of the climate of different regions of AJK.
Addressing on the occasion Prime Minister Haider urged for display of local products to familiarize the tourists of local culture, traditions and handicrafts at all the tourist destinations of the State. He said natural atmosphere of tourist friendly places should also be protected and preserved while steps should be taken to beautify the big cities also.
Mr. Haider urged to enlarge the flowers area in Jalalabad Park in Muzaffarabad. Beautiful monuments should be set up in the capital city while measures should also be taken to embellish Nilochi Bridge, he emphasized.
He said agriculture department should encourage the people to grow more flowers and plants at local level at all the district headquarters of the State. He disclosed that next year would be observed as the year of tourism for which all the departments would be given different targets to achieve.
He pointed out that people were making profits worth billions of rupees through small agricultural crops in IHK. There is need to introduce that culture in AJK too. There would be no dearth of funds for this purpose, he assured. He said some projects could be launched through public-private partnership in agriculture sector. He said traditional Kashmiri food festival would be held in AJK next year.
