Echo-friendly cabins: Allotment letters handed over to 51 locals in Galiyat

ABBOTTABAD: Secretary Forest, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Syed Nazar Hussain Shah on Friday handed over the allotment letters of 51 echo-friendly cabins to local residents in Galiyat.

Addressing the participants at a function organised at Forest School in Thai Dhamtor, he advised the allottees to keep the Galiyat neat and clean with extraordinary care to the tourists.

He said the issue of the allotment of cabins was solved after discussion under specific agreements and SOPs. “This landmark decision is poised to bolster eco-tourism in Galiyat, enhance tourist facilities and create job opportunities, marking a new era of environmental stewardship and community development in the region,” he added.

A special briefing session was also arranged for the media by the Forest Department which was also attended by the officials and workers of Galiyat Tahaffuz Movement (GTM).The secretary Forest informed that walking tracks would also be developed in different parts of Galiyat for which designing is near to completion while cabins would be installed on the allotted spaces. He said that the locals should grasp this golden opportunity by providing maximum facilities to the tourists.

“This will be treated as a model project and can be replicated in other tourist spots of the KP, especially Naran, Kaghan and Malakand division,” he added.Nazar Hussain Shah advised the local people to develop their skills in every section and present the best picture of hospitality by dealing with tourists with politeness.

Earlier, GTM Chairman Sardar Sabir lauded the government department for honouring the commitment with the locals.Conservator of Forest Northern Forest Region-II Muhammad Yousaf Khan told the media that the forest of Galiyat was rich in precious non-timber Forest produce, including different herbs, shrubs, wild fruits and wild vegetables. These resources, he said, were wasted for a long time due to unscientific procedures of collection and harvesting, which resulted in the extinction of so many species.

He said that there was a dire need of scientific management of forests in KP which would help increase the forest population to maximum level.He claimed that the trees crossing the age of 90 years were to be removed to make space for new plantation.“The department is set promoting a scientifically-backed approach to collection, processing, and marketing by local communities, guided by carefully drafted SOPs,” he added.