On the instructions of Chief Minister Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, the provincial government has announced an interest-free loan program for young people living in the region’s popular tourist destinations.
Zahid Chin Zai, the Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Tourism and Culture, emphasized that under the leadership of Chief Minister Gandapur, the initiative aims to actively involve the youth in the promotion of tourism.
This scheme will provide interest-free loans to help young residents in tourist areas construct or renovate rooms in their homes for visiting tourists.
In the first phase, the program will cover areas such as Kalam Swat, Kumrat Upper Dir, Laram Top Lower Dir, Upper Chitral, Lower Chitral, Galyat Abbottabad, Kaghan, and Mansehra.
Chin Zai explained that eligible residents in these areas could use the loans to build additional rooms or upgrade their homes to better accommodate tourists.
The initiative aims to create sustainable income opportunities for young people while fostering tourism growth in the region.
The program is being implemented in collaboration with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority and the Bank of Khyber, with women entrepreneurs receiving priority consideration.
Under this scheme, loans of up to Rs. 3 million will be provided for construction and renovation purposes. Recipients will be required to ensure high-quality facilities for tourists in the newly developed accommodations. The overall objective is to empower young individuals and boost local tourism.
The deadline for submitting loan applications is January 28, 2025.
Meanwhile, intermittent rainfall and snowfall over the past few days have increased the cold intensity in Mansehra and northern areas.
Snowfall has particularly affected Naran, Battakundi, and Shogran in the Kaghan Valley, with over one foot of snow recorded in Naran and Battakundi and more than four inches in Shogran. Kaghan Bazaar reported around two inches of snowfall.
The heavy snowfall has turned the upper regions into a stunning winter landscape, with Naran and its neighboring valleys blanketed under a foot of snow and Shogran and nearby areas receiving over five inches, enhancing the cold intensity in these areas.
