Tourism to become profitable industry in AJK: Sardar Tanveer Ilyas

Staff Reporter

Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) president and the most senior minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan said that the development of Azad Kashmir was linked with the development of tourism. He stated that the tourism corridors would be created from Samahni to Sharda in AJK with all modern tourism activities including winter sports. “We will build tourist resorts to promote tourism in Azad Kashmir. We will do our best for the convenience and comfort of tourists to make tourism a profitable industry. The ongoing winter sports festival at Ganga Choti Sadhan Gali will be helpful for the promotion of tourism.” He expressed these views while talking to a media.

Sardar Tanveer Ilyas ??Khan said that Jhelum Valley, Lepa, Neelum Valley, Pir Chanasi, Banjusa, Rawalkot, Sadhan Gali, Las Dannah and Mirpur divisions had their own importance. He aimed to identify tourist places and install chairlifts there. He further said that Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government would approve establishment of tourism authority in the next meeting of the cabinet, after which allocation and demarcation of land for special tourism zones would be done at the level of each district and tehsil and investment opportunities would be provided to investors under friendly one window operation. Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan further stated that an excellent plan of construction would be designed in Azad Kashmir without affecting the natural landscape.

In order to protect the natural beauty in all the three divisions of AJK, any kind of construction has been banned including Neelum Valley without prior approval. Soon the proper management plan including town planning will be implemented in all cities of Azad Kashmir.