Italian government has announced Rs1.2 billion soft loan for the development of Archaeology Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and promotion of religious tourism in the region. Italian Ambassador Stefano pontecorvo said this during a meeting with KP Senior Minister, Atif Khan here at Civil Secretariat Peshawar.

The meeting also discussed detailed bilateral relations including promotion of religious tourism and development of integrated districts. The Italian ambassador also assured the training of archaeological special police in the province, which would ensure prevention of antiquities.

Italy's ambassador assured to give funds for the development of the integrated tribal districts and offered the provincial government to point out different sector in erstwhile Fata.

On this occasion, the Senior Minister Atif Khan thanked the Italian Ambassador for lending the department archaeology on easy terms and provision of financial support for the development of the integrated districts.

Senior minister said that the situation in the province was now favourable for investors. He apprised the Italian minister that both the current federal and provincial governments were taking serious steps for the promotion of tourism and there were numerous opportunities in the tourism sector.