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PM’s tourism initiatives turn KP into home to tourists, adventure sports lovers

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Winter heralding melodies, rustling leaves, and fresh crisp winds take them into a state of ecstasy at Nathiagali, a beautiful hill location where an inflow of tourists, mountaineers, and adventure enthusiasts are enjoying the captivating beauty of stunning Galiyat valleys.

Amid hide and seek between sun and clouds with moderate to erratic rainfalls over snow-clad mountains peaks of Mukshpuri and Miranjani on western Himalayan hills in Abbottabad, Nathiagali has attracted tourists from width and breadth of Pakistan enjoying its breathtaking natural beauty, spectacular landscapes, biodiversity, and cool weather where winter season is around the corner.

Ayubia-Nathiagali, Donga Gali-Ayubia, and Mukshpuri Top are the most frequented sites where local guides and horse riders are seen moving around to make a quick buck. A substantial number of tourists along with families have been seen on fast-moving swings and Ayubia chairlifts amid thrill and excitement.

Unscrupulous business elements in the hotels and restaurants industries are fully exploiting the situation by fleecing tourists due to the shortage of accommodation at Nathiagali and adjoining scenic resorts.

It is pertinent to mention here that a private hotel is charging Rs5,000 to Rs8000 per room per night while a quality hotel is earning Rs15,000 to Rs20,000 from each tourist for a single room per night, which is beyond the purchasing power of low-income domestic tourists that need to be checked by the district administration.

“No hill station carries more natural and mountainous beauty in the world than Nathiagali where tourists are being heavily charged these days,” said Engr Khushal Khan, a resident of Dir Lower district while talking to APP at Nathiagali. He said such high charges by private hotels could negatively impact the total intake of tourists to scenic sites of Nathiagali, Ayubia, Dongali, Harnoi, Bagnotar, and Thandiani.

But now one can hope for ameliorating the situation of accommodation problem following the government decided to construct a state of the art five-star hotel at Nathiagali with an estimated cost of USD 25 million.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has recently performed the groundbreaking of the five-star hotel at Nathiagali that after completion would provide state-of-the-art accommodation facilities to foreign and domestic tourists at an affordable rate.

Galiyat Development Authority, Government of KP would provide land for construction of the five star hotel to the investor on lease on a prime location at Nathiagali being visited by millions of tourists every year.

As a result of the Government’s pro tourism policies, a record 2.77 million tourists had visited Swat, Chitral, Nathiagali Abbottabad, Kaghan, and Naran during vacations of Eid Ul Azha, said Latifur Rehman, spokesperson KP Tourism Department while talking to APP.

He said over 1.5 million tourists and adventure sports lovers had visited Swat, one million Galiyat, 1,20,000 Kumrat Dir Upper, 7,20,000 Kaghan, Naran and 50,000 Chitral through about 7,20,000 vehicles during Eid holidays. “These tourism activities in large scale generated wealth in KP where over Rs 66 billion businesses were made and Rs27 billion earned by local people only from tourism during three holidays of Eid ul Azha.

To address the problem of accommodation and control overcharging by hotels in far-flung scenic areas, he said the KP Government had planned a unique “Stay Home” project to bolster tourism and adventure sports in the province.

He said loans on easy terms and conditions from the Bank of Khyber would be provided to people of tourist areas for construction of at least one quality room as per Government design where all basic facilities would be provided to tourists for a comfortable stay.

Latifur Rehman said tourists would pay rent and meal charges during their stay in the said room to its owner.
He said camping pods constructed by KP Government at Bamborat Kalash Valley in Chitral, Shaheed Sir, Allai Battagram, Mahban and Malka in Buner district had attracted a substantial number of tourists especially to Malakand and Hazara divisions.

The spokesman said 10 new tourists sites had been identified in KP where new camping pods at Jarogo waterfall, Solatar and Kalam in Swat, Lashkargaz Broghal and Solarspot in Chitral, Kumrat in Dir Upper, Alpuri in Shangla, Samana Top in Hangu, Larum Top, and Bin Shahi in Dir Lower would be setup.

Three new ski resorts in Kaghan, Chitral, and Swat would be established to attract foreign tourists and adventure sports lovers.

Four new hill stations including two in Kaghan, one each in Chitral and Abbottabad would be developed to reduce visitors load on existing tourist destinations including Kalam, Nathiagali, and Kaghan and promote skiing sports.

Work on KP Integrated Tourism Development Project (KPTDP) amounting to Rs2,667.428 million, Integrated Tourism Development Project (KITE) amounting to Rs3,000 million, and Rs500 million for development of Galiyat Development Authority (GDA) were expedited.

Under the KITE project, he said a container-based facilitation center was being constructed at Chitral, Abbottabad, Mansehra, and Dir Upper to provide emergency assistance to tourists, mountaineers, hikers, and adventure sports lovers.

Kaghan Development Authority (KDA) had been reactivated by the KP Government by approving building rules for Naran. Colonial-era walking tracks including Nathiagali-Thandiani, Thandiyani-Satto- Mahnoor, and Kaghan-Saiful Malook-Anso in Mansehra are being improved.

The spokesman said a ban on illegal trout fishing in River Kunhar Mansehra had been imposed and community river rangers were provided motorbikes for patrolling alongside the river from Balakot to Babusar Top in order to check illegal fishing, tree cutting, and mining in the area.
Tout jumping out of the water and then vanishing back into the green waters of River Kunhar would be added as a new feature of adventure sports in Naran and work on the project would start in 2022.

Naran and Kaghan climate is most suitable for tulip gardening that would soon begin in the area where growers are likely to earn Rs 60,000 from one kanal produce.

He said the Battakundi-Lalazar chairlift project was also under consideration.

The KP Government is spending Rs 4655.134 million on the construction of access roads in remote areas of Hazara division, Rs320 million on the development of camping pods, Rs 500 million would be spent on construction of jeepable tracks in tourists’ areas and a seven kilometers long pony track between Saiful Malook and Ansoo lakes to facilitate tourists in these scenic tourist designations.

The spokesman said the world’s longest and highest 14 kilometers long Cable car Project (CCP) with a proposed cost of Rs32 billion had been planned to connect Kumrat Valley of Dir Upper with Madaklasht valley of Lower Chitral to promote adventure sports.

He said the Cable Car project on completion would attract around one million tourists every year to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Chakdara-Rabat Expressway amounting to about Rs10.5 billion and DI Khan-Peshawar Motorway have been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) that would open up the entire KP for trade, industrialization, and tourism.

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A Tribute in Silver: The State Bank of Pakistan to Issue Rs. 55/-Commemorative Coin on the 555th Jayanti of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji

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On the auspicious occasion of 555th Jayanti of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the Federal Government has been pleased to issue a commemorative coin of Rs.55 denomination with the following metal composition, shape, and dimensions: –

Metal composition:

Nickel-Brass, Cu 79%, Zn 20% & Ni 1% Dimension: 30.0 mm Weight: 13.5 grams

OBVERSE:

On the obverse side the waxing crescent moon and five-pointed star facing North-West in rising position, is in the center. Along with periphery on the top of crescent star is inscribed in wording “ISLAMI JAMHURIA PAKISTAN” in Urdu Script. Below the crescent and on the top of two springs of wheat with arms curved upward, there is the year of issuance 2024. The face value of coin in numeral “55” in bold letters and RUPIA in Urdu script are written on the right and left sides of crescent star respectively.

REVERSE:

 On the reverse side of the coin, picture of monument of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is shown in the center. The wording “555th Birthday Celebrations” is written on the top of the monument and “SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI” is written at the bottom of the monument whereas “1469- 2024” is written along with the periphery at the bottom of the coin depicting the span of birthday celebrations.

State of Pakistan is heir to diverse religious denominations; Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder of Sikh faith tradition, is one of the finest son to blossom out of the land now constituting Pakistan. Sikh faith is a worldwide religion with millions of adherents, the holiest shrines are located in Pakistan. The coin is being issued through the exchange counters of all the field offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation from November 22, 2024.

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The Sandak Project: A Cornerstone of Pakistan’s Mining Industry

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The Sandak Project, also known as the Saindak Copper-Gold Project, is a significant mining and metallurgical enterprise located in the remote Chagai District of Balochistan, Pakistan. It is a key initiative in the country’s efforts to harness its natural mineral resources and contribute to economic development.


Location

The Sandak Project is situated near Sandak Town, close to the Pakistan-Iran border in a region known for its rich mineral deposits. This area is part of the larger Tethyan Metallogenic Belt, a geologically rich zone that spans several countries.


Discovery and Development

  • Discovery: The presence of significant copper and gold reserves in Sandak was identified in the 1970s by the Geological Survey of Pakistan.
  • Development: Initial mining operations began in the early 1990s with Chinese assistance. Since then, the project has seen periodic advancements in exploration, extraction, and production technologies.

Mineral Resources

The project focuses primarily on the extraction of copper, gold, and silver.

  • Copper: The main component, extracted in the form of concentrates, which are then exported for processing.
  • Gold and Silver: By-products of copper mining, adding to the economic value of the project.

Operations and Partnership

The Sandak Project is operated through a collaboration between the Government of Pakistan and Chinese companies, notably the China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC).

  • Role of MCC: The Chinese corporation is responsible for mining operations, ore processing, and the overall management of the project.
  • Revenue Sharing: The profits are shared between Pakistan and MCC based on predefined agreements, contributing significantly to the regional economy.

Economic Significance

  1. Export Revenue: The project generates substantial export revenues through the sale of copper concentrates.
  2. Job Creation: It provides direct and indirect employment opportunities for local communities, helping alleviate poverty in the region.
  3. Infrastructure Development: The project has led to the development of roads, power plants, and other infrastructure in the Chagai District.

Challenges

  1. Resource Depletion: Concerns about the long-term sustainability of the reserves, as current estimates indicate limited quantities of copper and gold.
  2. Environmental Impact: Mining operations have raised issues of ecological degradation and water resource depletion.
  3. Political and Security Issues: The Chagai region is affected by political instability and security concerns, impacting the smooth operation of the project.
  4. Revenue Transparency: There are calls for greater transparency in revenue sharing and reinvestment in local communities.

Future Prospects

  • Exploration Expansion: Efforts are underway to discover additional reserves in surrounding areas.
  • Technological Upgrades: Incorporating advanced mining and processing technologies to improve efficiency.
  • Local Investment: Increasing investments in local infrastructure, healthcare, and education to ensure community benefits.

Conclusion

The Sandak Project is a testament to Pakistan’s vast natural resource potential. While it contributes significantly to the country’s economy, addressing environmental, political, and community concerns is essential for ensuring the project’s long-term success. By balancing economic gains with sustainable practices, Sandak can continue to be a vital asset for Pakistan’s development trajectory.

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Have a Visit to the Naturally resourceful Pakistan

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Khewra Salt Mines

I just came to know that Pakistan is ranked the second number in the world’s list of salt reserves. So I thought it better to share it with you as well. Most of the salt reserves are located in the district of Jhelum in the Punjab province. In this write, I would like to introduce you to Khewra Salt Mines.

Khewra Salt Mines

Khewra Salt Mines are a bit far from Islamabad. The distance is around 160 kilometers from Islamabad and approximately 15 kilometers north of the Jhelum settlement of Pind Dadan Khan. This place is more fascinating and attractive for the tourist. This amazing place was discovered in 326 BC by the army of Alexander the Great while marching through Pakistan with their horses. Luckily their horses started licking the rocks so a soldier replicated them and revealed the secret. And today it has been ranked at the second number in terms of size.          

Khewra Mine Looks Like

The Khewra Salt Mines are the earliest salt mines in the history of salt mining on the Indian subcontinent. In the form of an irregular dome-like structure, salt is found in nature. It is possible to find seven broad salts seems with a combined thickness of around 150 meters. This is the place where one can find 99 percent pure salt. More interestingly you would find different colors of salt like transparent, white, pink, reddish, or beef-color red. 

It is not just a salt mine but a full-fledged closet to visit. The mines are filled with architectural wonders such as mosques, a copy of the Minar-e-Pakistan, a sanatorium, Chaghi Mountain, and various other brightly colored structures made entirely of salt bricks. The monuments are illuminated from within by lights. One can find Sheesh Mahal which is also known as the palaces of mirrors. The walls of the palace are made up of clear salt and water pools are lighten up with lamps.

Besides, its popularity for high-quality salt, it is also known for its gypsum, marble, lime clay, potash, coal, and a variety of other minerals.

Annual Production of Salt

Khewra mines are regarded to be the most ancient in the history of salt mining on the subcontinent. Salinity was assessed to be 98 percent pure in 2018, resulting in the annual production of 389,134 tons of pure salt. In addition to the cash generated by the production, a substantial amount is generated by the approximately 40,000 visitors who come to the site every month. The anticipated yearly production of pink, white, & red salt is about 347,000 tons, with the majority of it being sold to China, India, the United States, and Germany.

By knowing this I think this is a worth visiting place. And amazingly the visiting ticket cost just 220 Rupees per head and half for students and children. Moreover, the visiting timing is from 9 am to 5 pm.  

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