Says work on 124 development projects in progress
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has termed that promotion of tourism and sports activities in the province as an important focus area of his government and made it clear that no delay would be tolerated in the timely completion of these projects directing all relevant departments to take solid steps and fulfill their shares of responsibilities to this effect.
He expressed dissatisfaction over the show pace of work on the rehabilitation of Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium and directed the concerned authorities to take result oriented steps to complete this project by June 2022. This was told in a progress review meeting of Sports, Tourism, Culture, Archeology & Youth Affairs Department held here on Monday with Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan in the chair.
Under the Sports, Tourism, Culture, Archeology & Youth Affairs Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, work on a total of 124 development projects is in progress for which a total fund of Rs. 14.5 billion have been allocated in the budget of current fiscal year. Out of these 33 development projects are due for completion which are expected be completed by June this year.
Briefing about the due for completion projects under Sports, Tourism, Culture, Archeology & Youth Affairs Department, the forum was informed that 33 development projects would be completed by the June this year including construction of Hazara Museum, development of Museum Campuses at Swat, Chitral, Mardan, Hund, Dir and Bannu, Archeological Complex Gor Gathri, provision of three athletics tracks at Kohat, D.I Khan and Bannu, construction of Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium, establishment of Hockey Turf at Swat, provision of Sports facilities at districts Kurrum, Bajawar and Khyber, construction of Mini Sports Stadium at district Tank, construction of Sports Complex at Orakzai, establishment of Sports Academies in merged districts, establishment of tourists facilitations centers and other important projects.
It was also told that various important projects have also been identified for the current financial year including provision of one thousand sports facilities in the province, upgradation of Hayatabad Sports Complex, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa integrated Tourism Project, construction of approach roads in Kalam and Malakand division, establishing tourist’s sites, construction of play grounds at union council level and other projects aimed that promoting tourist’s activities in the province.
The participants were also briefed about the progress so far made on the decisions of the provincial government and was informed that evolution of technical bids for outsourcing camping pods has been completed whereas work on financial bids was in progress adding that agreement would be signed to this effect till the end of this month.
The authorities told that master plans of four integrated tourism zones have been sent to the world bank whereas Provincial cabinet has accorded approval to declare three sites as integrated tourism zones. Similarly, pre-feasibility of Kumrat Cable Car project would be completed by the August this year.
The chief minister termed the promotion of tourism and sports activities in the province as an important focus area of his government and made it clear that no delay would be tolerated in the timely completion of these projects directing all relevant departments to take solid steps and fulfill their shares of responsibilities to this effect.
