MANSEHRA: The federal government has planned to set up the Mansehra Tourism Development Authority to attract foreign tourists to scenic destinationsin the district and create employment opportunities for the local residents.

`Having finished a survey, the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation will soon submit its summary on the establishment of the Mansehra Tourism Development Authority to the prime minster for approval,` religious affairs and interfaith harmony minister Sardar Mohammad Yousaf told local government representatives during a meeting here on Monday.

The minister said Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif had given approval to the survey.

He said the public-private partnership would not only boost tourism in Mansehra, Balakot and Oghi tehsils but also provide employment opportunities to hundreds and thousands of locals.

Mr. Yousaf said Kaghan, Siren and Konsh valleys in Mansehra, Darband and Tanawal were natural beauties in the district and that more tourism destinations would be discovered and linked with the main roads.

He said motels and other tourist attractions would also be built under the public-private partnership. Also in the day, the minister addressed a public meeting in Jabori area.

He said bacl(ward areas in Siren valley were being linked with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor for the progress and development of the scenic valley.

`The government has linked Siren valley with the Express Motorway being built under the multibillion dollars CPEC project. The time is not far away when the people of this valleywill be prosperous,` he said. District nazim Sardar Said Ghulam, MPA Salah Mohammad Khan and local PML-N leaders also spoke on the occasion.

DOG KILLING DRIVE: The health department has launched a campaign in Mansehra district to kill more than 1,000 stray dogs in a bid to contain high bite incidence.

`We have begun killing dogs in three tehsils of Mansehra with the support of the tehsil municipal administrations as the dog bite cases have seen a drastic increase during the last one month, district sanitation officer Basharat All told reporters here on Monday.

The official said more than 100 local residents had complained of being bitten by dogs in January and that the health department gave them anti-rabies vaccine.

He said more than 70 dog bite cases had been reported in February and that there were fears that the number would cross the last month`s.

Mr. Ali said more than 100 stray dogs would be killed in Mansehra, Balakot and Oghi tehsils during the campaign.