The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the recommendation of Provincial Tourism Strategy Board (PTSB) can notify to declare any area within the province as an 'Integrated Tourism Zone' to deal it in accordance with the provisions of KP Tourism Bill, 2019.

In order to incentivise investment in integrated tourism zones, the government may, through notification in the official gazette, except any businesses or class of businesses from any of the provincial taxes or levies to such extent and for such terms and under such conditions as may be determined by the government.

The bill has also already been passed by the provincial legislature and now it is awaiting assent of the KP Governor that would be followed by its publication in official gazette as legislative Act.

Under the same legislation, the provincial government is also going to establish a Culture and Tourism Authority to promote, preserve and revive culture heritage, cultural traditions, values, festivals and dialects; formulate guidelines and prescribed measures for sustainable tourism, regulate tourism products, promote the culture and religious heritage, register, license and grade all hotels and other tourism related affairs.

After the notification of any area as integrated tourism zone eight different provincial laws lost jurisdiction in the concerned area. Such laws are included KP Urban Immovable Property Tax Act 1958, KP River Protection Ordinance, 2002, KP Forest

Ordinance, 2002, provisions to be notified by government time to time under the KP Local Government Act, 2013, KP Environmental Protection Act, 2014 KP Wildlife and Bio-diversity (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management Act, 2015 and KP Mineral Sector Governance Act, 2017.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019