In order to promote the tourism , the government of AJK in financial and technical assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB) had developed and improved different roads to enhance the access of the tourists to the various tourist destinations, said Acting Chief Secretary AJK Dr Syed Asif Hussain. Talking to a group of journalists that had visited different road projects that were initiated with the financial assistance and technical supports of ADB, he said that after 2014 flash floods, the AJK government and ADB entered into an agreement for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the road infrastructure to enhance the road accessibility for common man and promotion of tourism.
The Flood Emergency Reconstruction and Resilience Project (FERRP) financed by Asian Development Bank (ADB) with over $220 million opened new vistas of economic development and social recovery of flood affected areas in the AJK, by rehabilitating and reconstructing high priority infrastructure. With the implementation of the project, tourism industry is expected to increase manifold which would create job opportunities, besides improving the life standard of the people in the area. Apart from infrastructure development, the FERRP is increasing economic opportunities for women by reviving and strengthening business of women nursery owners, creating employment opportunities for women as forest wardens and creating space for women to voice their problems and participate in decision making.
The initiative of the government to establish three tourism corridors would help in creating employment opportunities for skilled and semi-skilled youth, reduce poverty and enhance income of rural people by opening up of monumental tourism sites at Banjosa, Tolipeer, Lasdana and Hajipir areas.
He said that ADB had provided $220.04 million under the three-year Flood Emergency Reconstruction and Resilience Project (FERRP) for the construction of 10 major and 15 district roads, adding that government's share in the project was $ 24.23 million. So far, he said that 90 percent work of about 10 major roads comprising 204km has been completed with a cost of Rs 4,381.02 million as against the contract cost of 5,334.1 million, adding that work on 15 district roads consisting of 66.1km was 96 percent completed and a amount of Rs 386 million was spent.