AJK Government Includes Tourism Promotion In 100 Day Plan
MUZAFFARABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Oct, 2026) As the government prioritizes promotion of tourism in the region, Raja Shahid Hussain, Director General Tourism Azad Jammu and Kashmir, visited Neelum Valley on Tuesday to review proposed tourism projects under the Prime Minister's 100-day reform programme. The programme aims to make the tourism sector more active, effective, and sustainable.
During his visit, the Director General inspected several important tourism and heritage sites, including Keran along the Line of Control, the historic village of Tehjian, and Kail Seri Bela. He met local stakeholders and community elders to discuss opportunities and challenges related to tourism development in the valley.
In accordance with the directions of AJK Minister for Tourism Abdul Rehman Arain and Secretary Tourism Muhammad Ansar Yaqoob, Raja Shahid Hussain visited the historic village of Tehjian to assess its potential for community-based tourism. Following the assessment, Tehjian was selected for the promotion of community-based tourism.
Local elders briefed the Director General about the village's historical, cultural, and natural significance and offered suggestions on how local residents could be integrated into tourism activities.
Raja Shahid Hussain stated that Neelum Valley possesses enormous tourism potential due to its distinctive culture, historical heritage, and natural beauty. He emphasized that selecting Tehjian for community-based tourism aimed at directly involving local residents in tourism activities, thereby creating employment and economic opportunities for them and allowing communities to benefit directly from tourism growth.
The Director General also visited Kail Seri Bela and identified the area as suitable for establishing an ecotourism park. He assured that concerns of local residents and other issues related to the proposed project would be addressed through community consultation, highlighting the importance of local participation while preserving the natural environment and ecological balance in ecotourism projects.
Raja Shahid Hussain noted that tourism has been given special attention under Prime Minister of AJK Iftikhar Gilani's 100-day reform programme. Consistent with directions from the Chief Secretary AJK, various locations in Neelum Valley are being identified to transform natural, cultural, and historical resources into sustainable tourism destinations.
Assistant Director Tourism Neelum Malik Murtaza and Tourism Officer Chaudhry Lal, along with officials from the Tourism Department, received the Director General at Keran. They provided detailed briefings on tourism development at Keran along the Line of Control, the historic site of Tehjian, and the proposed Kail Seri Bela Ecotourism Park.