Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

Mansehra : ReNews Pakistan
The Mansehra district administration has directed the Kaghan Development Authority to accelerate restoration work on the Saiful Muluk Road after a section of the important tourist route was washed away by flash floods, cutting off direct access between Naran and Saiful Muluk Lake.
The road was closed to traffic after cloudburst-triggered flooding damaged part of the route last week, leaving it unsafe for public travel. The disruption affected one of the most heavily visited tourist corridors in the Kaghan Valley at a time when tourism activity in the region is at its seasonal peak.
According to an order issued by the deputy commissioner, a team of revenue officials led by the assistant commissioner on special duty inspected the affected section of the road and concluded that it was not safe for vehicular movement.
Following the inspection, the district administration instructed the Kaghan Development Authority to immediately deploy heavy machinery, begin repair and clearance work on a priority basis and make all possible efforts to reopen the route at the earliest.
Officials said the restoration of the road was essential not only for ensuring safe travel but also for reviving tourism and commercial activity around Saiful Muluk Lake, one of the most popular tourist destinations in northern Pakistan.
The route was closed after flash floods caused extensive damage to the road infrastructure. Before the closure, around 200 jeeps carrying stranded tourists were safely evacuated on July 30, preventing a potentially serious emergency.
The district administration noted that thousands of visitors travel to Saiful Muluk Lake during the summer season and that prolonged closure of the road could have a significant impact on local tourism, transport services, hotels, restaurants, jeep operators and other businesses dependent on visitor activity.
Local traders and tourism stakeholders welcomed the decision to fast-track the reopening, saying that restoring access to the lake would help revive commercial activity and reduce losses suffered since the road was closed.
They also urged the authorities to ensure that repair work is carried out to adequate safety standards so that the route remains resilient against further rainfall, flooding and landslides during the ongoing monsoon season.
Saiful Muluk Road serves as the main access route from Naran to the high-altitude lake and is particularly important for local jeep operators and tourism-related businesses. Its early reopening is expected to restore visitor movement and provide relief to communities whose livelihoods depend heavily on seasonal tourism.

Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan
Significant progress has been reported in the ongoing operation against the illegal occupation of valuable land belonging to the Auqaf Department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where a total of 3,012 kanals and 18 marlas of property has been recovered in the districts of Mardan and Malakand with the supervision and assistance of the National Accountability Bureau Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to officials, the recovered land has an estimated value of Rs 1.429 billion. However, it has also emerged that nearly 36,000 kanals of Auqaf land across the province remain under illegal occupation at various locations.
Sources said the retrieved land has been handed over to the Auqaf Department, while the process of identifying, demarcating and verifying the record of the remaining encroached properties has been accelerated. Legal proceedings are also being initiated against those involved in the illegal occupation.
The district administrations, Auqaf Department, revenue authorities and law enforcement agencies are jointly planning further operations to bring properties dedicated to religious, charitable and public welfare purposes back under government control.
Officials said Auqaf properties include land associated with mosques, shrines, graveyards, religious institutions, charitable organisations and other public welfare facilities. They added that the removal of illegal encroachments from such properties remains a priority for the provincial authorities.
To prevent the reoccupation of recovered land, the government is also strengthening the verification of property records, physical surveys, digital mapping and scrutiny of legal documents. These measures are aimed at improving transparency and ensuring the long-term protection of Auqaf assets.
NAB and other relevant institutions have maintained that inter-agency coordination is being strengthened to expedite the recovery of state-owned land. Similar coordinated operations and joint task forces have also been established in Punjab and other provinces in recent months to retrieve public property from illegal occupants.
Authorities are expected to intensify such operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as part of a broader effort to safeguard public assets and improve land administration.
Official sources said the next phase would involve the gradual recovery of the remaining encroached Auqaf land, legal action against those responsible and the introduction of stronger mechanisms for transparent property management.
The measures are intended to protect public assets, prevent future encroachments and ensure that land reserved for religious and welfare purposes is used in accordance with its designated objectives.

Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved 17 tourism road development projects worth approximately PKR 5 billion to improve access to some of the province's most popular tourist destinations. The initiative includes the construction, rehabilitation and upgrading of 91.5 kilometres of roads aimed at strengthening tourism infrastructure and supporting regional economic development.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Tourism Malik Adeel Iqbal said the projects had been approved by Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi as part of the provincial government's broader strategy to position tourism as a key contributor to economic growth, employment generation and sustainable development.
According to officials, the approved schemes will focus on improving road connectivity in major tourism hubs, including Upper Chitral, Swat, Upper Dir and Lower Dir. These districts attract thousands of domestic and international visitors every year because of their scenic valleys, mountain landscapes, cultural heritage and adventure tourism opportunities.
The government believes that better road infrastructure will significantly improve travel accessibility, reduce journey times and enhance the overall visitor experience. Easier access to remote tourist destinations is also expected to encourage higher tourist arrivals, particularly during the peak travel seasons.
Officials from the Tourism Department said the projects would generate wide-ranging economic benefits by stimulating business activity in local communities. Hotels, guest houses, restaurants, transport operators and small businesses are expected to benefit from increased visitor numbers, while improved connectivity is likely to attract new private investment in tourism-related infrastructure.
The upgraded road network is also expected to create employment opportunities during both the construction phase and the long-term expansion of tourism services across the province. Authorities believe improved accessibility will help unlock the economic potential of remote regions by connecting local communities more effectively with visitors and commercial activity.
The provincial government described the initiative as part of its long term vision to develop a modern and sustainable tourism sector capable of contributing more significantly to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's economy while promoting balanced regional development and improving infrastructure in tourism dependent areas.