Prime Minister Imran Khan performed on Monday the groundbreaking of a five-star hotel in Nathiagali, pushing ahead the country's move to promote tourism in its northern areas.

A subsidiary of international hotels chain Hilton Hotels, the Double Tree by Hilton hotel is being constructed as the first-ever five-star hotel in Nathiagali, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).

He said the construction of the hotel in Nathiagali is a big step towards creating wealth from tourism, adding that this will attract more people to Pakistan.

The PM said that the next step after the construction of this hotel is the development of resorts and skiing facilities.

Pakistan also has great potential for skiing owing to prolonged snowy conditions, he added.

In 2020, the then National Tourism Coordination Board (NTCB) chairman Sayed Zulfikar Abbas performed the ground-breaking of a five-star hotel in Chitral. The 80-bed hotel, with two restaurants and a hall with a 500-person sitting capacity, is being constructed by an overseas Pakistani.

Biggest asset

Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony, the PM reiterated that overseas Pakistanis are the nation's biggest asset, saying that these people went abroad due to the country's "corrupt system" which did not allow them to function here.

He estimated that nine million overseas Pakistanis had income equaling 220 million population of the country, adding that it is important to facilitate them so that they invest back in the country.

Tourism potential: Govt will ensure full utilisation: PM

The PM further said that the government is pursuing the establishment of a rule of law so that overseas Pakistanis can easily invest without the fear of a corrupt system.

Nathiagali's first five-star hotel will be built on land belonging to Galiyat Development Authority (GDA) and will be leased to Baron Hotels, Pakistan. It is being built at an approximate cost of $25 million.