The NWFP Minister for Tourism, Archaeology and Sports, Hussain Ahmad Kanju on Friday said that the federal government was agreed to hand over all its archaeological sites and museums to the NWFP government to promote tourism sector in the province.
Chairing a meeting here, he said that the handing over of the archaeological sites to the provincial government would further develop tourism in the province as archaeology and museums were inter related and must for the development of the sector. The Minister also directed to work for exploration of 1600 archaeological sites identified by the former director archaeology, Dr Ehsan Ali in his book and submit a viable report in this regard at the earliest.
Kanju urged on the officials to initiate urgent steps for attracting maximum domestic and foreign tourists to the province and ensure provision of all required facilities including communication to them on the tourist resorts adding that it would not only generate employment to the locals but also strengthen the economy of the province.
The meeting noted that after devaluation of sports department at district level, sports activities were affected as the district governments lack an effective system to properly look after the sports stadia, play grounds, gymnasia, squash courts and other sports facilities worth millions of rupees. The meeting took a unanimous decision for conducting a feasibility study of new tourist resort in the Union Council Shawar district Swat.