Staff Reporter Peshawar
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has planned a unique “Stay Home” project to bolster tourism and rural economy in remote and far flung scenic desti-nations besides promoting adventure and mountains sports in the province.
Under the project, loans on easy terms and condi-tions from Bank of Khyber would be provided to the people of tourists areas for construction of at least one quality room as per government design where all basic facilities would be provided to tourists for their comfortable stay.
Officials in KP Tourism Department told APP that Bank of Khyber would provide loans for the project and the beneficiaries would be required to construct one guest room having an entrance and exit outside of the house as per design of the government for accommodation of the tourists.
Tourists would pay rent and meal charges during their stay in the said room to its owner, he said, adding the project would help generate substantial income for local people and provide secure accom-modation to tourists along their families coming every year in large number to northern areas to ex-plore its breathtaking natural beauty, water falls and ancient Ghandhara civilization.
The official said camping pods experience at Bam-borat Kalash Velley in Chitral, Shaheed Sir, Allai Batagram, Mahban and Malka in Buner district remained highly successful this year, which has attracted substantial number of tourists.
He said KP government has decided to increase the number of camping pods in remote and far flung scenic areas especially in Hazara and Malakand divisions.
“Ten new tourists sites have been identified in KP where camping pods would be setup. The new pods would be established at Jarogo waterfall, Solatar and Kalam in Swat, Lashkargaz Broghal and Sor-laspor in Chitral, Kumrat in Dir Upper, Alpuri in Shangla, Samana Top in Hangu, Larum Top and Bin Shahi in Dir Lower.”
