Master plan of Madaklasht tourism zone finalized

PESHAWAR: The KP government has finalized the master planning and feasibility study for the establishment of four integrated tourism zones (ITZs) in a bid to develop tourist spots on international standards.

These ITZs are: Madaklasht Chitral, Ghanool Mansehra, Mankiyal Swat and Thandiyani Abbottabad. The master plan and feasibility study of the ITZs were presented to Chief Minister Mahmood Khan at a meeting held on Thursday.

The chief minister, in principle, agreed to the master plan which would soon be presented to World Bank for implementation.

Briefing the meeting about these ITZs it was informed that Ghanool ITZ would be established on 480 kanals, Mankiyal on 754 kanals, Madaklasht on 540 kanals whereas Thandyani ITZ would be established on 640 kanals.

It was further informed that these ITZs are expected to create 16,000 direct and indirect job opportunities and to attract an investment worth $2.8 billion. It was decided in the meeting to present these ITZs projects in the upcoming Dubai Expo 2020 to attract foreign investment.

The major components of the ITZs project include roads, pathways, tracks, water supply, solid waste management, stable supply of electricity and infrastructure development.