PESHAWAR: Since coming into power, the government is engaged in its efforts to stimulate business and economic activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which has been badly affected by the prolonged security crisis, but efforts are yet to bear fruit.
In particular, the provincial authorities are stressing on cultural and sports events not only in Peshawar but in Swat, Abbottabad, Dera Ismail Khan, Haripur and other areas of the province.
But militants’ presence has discouraged cultural activities to again take roots in Swat and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Tribal Areas.
In Swat, the militants not only indulged in destroying music and barber shops, but they also killed a number of female singers.
Fearing for their lives, a large number of male and female singers, musicians and artists either abandoned the profession or left the country for good.
But after the successful military action, the government has asked the people to return and both civilian and military authorities have arranged several events in Swat and Peshawar for promoting cultural events.
Besides focusing on cultural events and traditional festivals, the government has also tried its best for stimulating trade and other economic activities in the terror-hit regions.
Due to geographical disadvantages, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lacks badly in the industrial sector.
But the region’s tourism sector, with its scenic valleys, is a boon for the people.
But due to the militancy, the tourism sector has also been affected abadly.
After the May-July 2009 military action in Swat, both civilian and military authorities made attempts for stimulating tourism activities. The efforts bore initial results, but unfortunately came to a halt by last year’s summer floods.
The floods badly affected Swat, Chitral, Mansehra and Galyat, however, tourism in this area is tottering back to its former glory gradually this year.
Thousands of people from across the country are visiting Galyat, Naran, Kaghan, Shogran and other areas.
In another bid to stimulate tourism in Swat, the government has arranged the “Spirit of Swat” festival from June 18 that runs until the end of July.
Multiple events are being held both in Swat and Peshawar, but the turnout has so far remained disappointing. In fact, every economic activity is dependant on infrastructure and roads play a key role in such efforts. With the main road from Mingora to Maho Dhand area of Kalam having been washed away by floods, there seems little hope for a full scale revival of tourism.
Up until Madayan, the authorities have constructed a road fit only for traveling by a jeep, but but beyond, the visitors are facing severe problems.
Despite frequent requests by the people of Bahrain and Kalam, the quarters concerned have failed in even repairing the main road and driving on such a road is out of question.
And commoners, particularly domestic tourists, are unable to afford the steep fares of for-hire jeeps and other vehicles.
On such grounds, hotel owners from Kalam and Bahrain are yet to benefit from the efforts of the government to revive business and tourism in the Swat region.
