Muzaffarabad, (Parliament Times) : Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan during his visit to Kotla Valley on Sunday announced to provide employment to 600 local people by establishing a state-of-the-art one-kilometre-long tourist strip on both sides of the river at Patika.
While addressing Tourism Gala ceremony, Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan said that steps would be taken to boost tourism activities in the area by providing better roads for access to tourist destinations in the Kotla valley.
He said that besides improving road-infrastructure arrangements would be made to boost water sports in the area. “A one kilo-meter area on the banks of River Neelum at Patika is being earmarked for promotion of water sports activities and traditional food”, he said.
The PM said that he was well aware of the potential of tourism in Azad Kashmir. “Promoting tourism sector will not only help to increase the income of the state but also provide massive employment opportunities to the people”, he added.
The Prime Minister announced the formation of a committee headed by PTI Azad Kashmir Senior Vice President Chaudhry Zafar Anwar to promote tourism activities in the Valley at government level. Khan also announced to give 6 crore rupees for the promotion of tourism and employment in Kotla Valley.
The Prime Minister also directed the concerned departments to construct washrooms for the tourist spots in and around Patika Bazar and Kotla Valley and sought repair of half a kilometer broken road in Patika Bazar on urgent basis.The Prime Minister also announced the construction of a museum in Muzaffarabad.
Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan congratulated Kotla Valley Tourism Gala chief organizer and PTI senior leader Khursheed Ahmad Abbasi for organizing this excellent event and said that the event would go a long way to generate economic activities in the area. Parliamentary Secretary and Member of Assembly Javed Butt, PTI Azad Kashmir Senior Vice President Chaudhry Zafar Anwar and others were present on the occasion.Earlier, on his arrival at the Tourism Gala, the Prime Minister was given a rousing reception by the people of the area.
