PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Monday approved the creation of 300 posts for the establishment of tourism police.

Initially tourism police will be deputed in five districts of the province including Swat, Upper Dir, Chitral, Abbottabad and Mansehra, according to a statement.

District level of ficers of the tourism police will be hired from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police on deputation whereas constables and other officials of the force will be recruited on initial basis.

A meeting of tourism department held here on Monday with Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in the chair was told that tourism police would function as a special wing of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Authority.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari attended the meeting on special invitation. Tourism Secretary Mohammad Abid Majeed, Special Secretary to Chief Minister Mohammad Khaliq, Additional Secretary of Tourism Junaid Khan and other relevant officials also attended the meeting.

The meeting reviewed the progress so far made on various schemes launched in the province to boost tourism.

The meeting was informed that a law was enacted for transfer of government properties and rest houses to tourism department and outsourcing of the rest housesfor revenue generation.

The meeting was told that the provincial cabinet approved the transfer of possession of 167 government rest houses to tourism department for further outsourcing to reputable investors to ensure their better utilisation. Similarly, consultancy services are being hired for the mapping of tourist sites and finalisation of marketing plan.

It was said that integrated tourism management plan was being prepared for Hazara and Malakand divisions.-Bureau Report