Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, home to tourist attractions, heritage sites, indigenous Kalash culture, historic Gandhara Civilization and more. This showcase is part of the country’s goal to attract more visitors and investors to the area.
On Friday 14 January, special assistant to the chief minister on trade and industries, Abdul Karim Khan, attended a conference at the Expo looking at investment opportunities in the Integrated Tourism Zones (ITZs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said he hoped the region’s participation in the global event would help to boost its economy by attracting investors to the opportunities.
During the conference, a briefing was also given on the ITZs feasibility reports, as well as on a range of investment opportunities in Thandiani in Abbottabad, Ganol in Mansehra, Mankial in Swat, Water Sports Theme Park in Hund, Swabi, Madaklasht in Chitral and others.
After the event, four Letters of Intent for investment were signed.
Following this, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, Mahmood Khan, took part in another conference on investment opportunities in tourism, held on Sunday 16 January. This was attended by a number of foreign firms and investors, including CEOs of the Samara Group, Mazaya Group (EGI), Jannat and AJ Group, and Almasa Group.
Addressing attendees at this conference, KP finance minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra announced that “International firms have signed 44 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth $8 billion during the Expo 2020 Dubai. For the promotion of tourism in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the government is presenting ready projects at the expo for investment.”
Khan further tweeted “Investment groups that have signed MoUs include Enertech-Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), Private Office of Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook-Al-Maktoum, Samara Group, VR Group, Sigma Group, Malik Foams, Nobel Future Land and many others, Investments in the development of food processing zones, integrated tourism zones (ITZ), Solarisation of Economic Zones, Construction of Transmission Lines across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will help in transforming KP by creating economic opportunities and increase in employment.”
According to Jhagra, an Overseas Pakistan Council will be formed to facilitate investors.
