Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has distributed more than PKR 100 million in interest-free loans among 109 beneficiaries under the Maizban Tourism Programme, aiming to promote community-based tourism and generate new livelihood opportunities across the province.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Tourism, Culture, Archaeology and Museums Malik Adeel Iqbal distributed the loan cheques during a ceremony held in Peshawar.
Under the programme, eligible individuals from Swat, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Chitral and Dir are receiving interest-free financing to establish new homestays or improve existing accommodation facilities for tourists. The initiative is designed to involve local communities directly in the tourism economy while expanding lodging options in popular destinations.
Speaking at the ceremony, Iqbal said the programme would help strengthen local economies by enabling residents, particularly young people and women, to earn income from tourism-related activities.
He said the provincial government was promoting community-based tourism as a means of creating employment, increasing household incomes and supporting sustainable economic development in areas with significant tourism potential.
The special assistant added that efforts would be made to expand the Maizban Tourism Programme so that more individuals and communities could benefit from tourism-related economic opportunities in the future.

Naran : ReNews Pakistan
The district administration has temporarily prohibited tourists from visiting Lake Saif ul Muluk after weather authorities warned of heavy monsoon rainfall, possible cloudbursts and an increased risk of flash flooding across Naran and other parts of Kaghan Valley. Officials said the precautionary measure has been taken to safeguard visitors as adverse weather conditions are expected to intensify in the coming days.
According to the district administration, the restriction was imposed on Friday on the recommendation of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) following forecasts issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). Travel to the popular high-altitude lake will remain suspended until further notice, with authorities stating that public safety remains the top priority.
Balakot Assistant Commissioner Hasrat Khan said the temporary ban was introduced as a preventive measure to minimise the risk to tourists visiting the mountainous region during the ongoing monsoon season. He noted that weather forecasts indicate the possibility of intense rainfall, cloudbursts and rapidly changing conditions that could make access routes hazardous.
Officials have placed Rescue 1122 teams and other relevant emergency departments on high alert throughout Kaghan Valley to ensure a swift response in case of any weather-related emergencies. Monitoring of vulnerable locations has also been intensified as authorities continue to assess the evolving weather situation.
The decision, however, has drawn concern from the local business community, which says the restriction could significantly affect the valley's tourism-driven economy during its peak season.
Hussan Deen, chairman of a traders' organisation in Kaghan Valley, urged the administration to review the decision, arguing that weather conditions in Naran remained stable and that travel to Lake Saif ul Muluk was not currently dangerous. He said emergency response teams were already deployed in the area and capable of handling any unforeseen situation.
He further stressed that businesses in Kaghan Valley rely heavily on a tourism season that lasts only three to four months each year. According to local traders, prolonged restrictions on access to major tourist attractions discourage visitors, reduce business activity and result in substantial financial losses for hotels, transport operators, restaurants and other tourism related enterprises.
Authorities have advised tourists to avoid unnecessary travel to vulnerable mountainous areas and to follow official weather advisories until conditions improve and the restriction is lifted.

Chitral : ReNews Pakistan
The federal government has set December 2026 as the revised completion deadline for the 153-kilometre Chitral–Booni–Mastuj–Shandur Road, a strategically important highway project aimed at improving connectivity between Upper Chitral and the Shandur region.
According to official documents, the project requires Rs4.20 billion during the 2026-27 fiscal year to achieve its revised target. Authorities have already spent Rs6.59 billion on the road's construction since work began.
The route connects Chitral, Pret, Booni, Mastuj, Shaidas and Shandur, providing an important transport corridor for local communities, tourism and regional economic activity. Following its federalisation in May 2020, the road was designated National Highway N-140, bringing it under the national highway network.
To facilitate construction, the project has been divided into four separate work packages, with work currently in progress on all sections. However, construction progress varies considerably across the different segments.
The first package, extending from Chitral to Pret, has recorded the highest level of progress, with 47.54 percent of work completed. The second package, covering the Pret–Booni section, has reached 34.77 percent completion.
Meanwhile, the third package, from Booni to Shaidas, stands at 38.16 percent completion. The fourth and final package, connecting Shaidas with Shandur, has achieved 29.78 percent progress, making it the least advanced section of the project.
The Chitral–Shandur Road was originally scheduled for completion between 2023 and 2024, but construction delays resulted in a revised timeline. With the government now targeting completion by December 2026, the timely release of development funds and sustained construction activity will be critical to meeting the new deadline.
Once completed, the upgraded highway is expected to improve year-round accessibility, facilitate tourism to the internationally renowned Shandur Pass, reduce travel times, strengthen regional trade and provide safer transportation for residents across Upper Chitral.