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KP govt moves to lease out 19 rest houses

Bureau Report
May 8, 2021


The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority on Friday advertised 19 government rest houses in different parts of the province for the purpose of leasing them out to private parties. — Dawn/File


The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority on Friday advertised 19 government rest houses in different parts of the province for the purpose of leasing them out to private parties. — Dawn/File


PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority on Friday advertised 19 government rest houses in different parts of the province for the purpose of leasing them out to private parties.
The expressions of interest seeking potential bidders for leasing the rest houses were issued on Friday with the bids likely to be opened on June 29.

In Aug 2019, the government had handed over 169 rest houses of different departments in the province to the tourism department to promote tourism and increase tourist facilities on the directives of the prime minister.

Officials told Dawn that the tourism department initially conducted a survey of 169 rest houses handed over to it by various departments, and categorised them for outsourcing in different phases.

They said that of 169 rest houses, 47 were ready for operationalisation in the first phase, 80 required major repairs, while the others were occupied by different government departments.

Expressions of interest seeking potential bidders issued


The officials said a technical committee headed by the finance minister during its first meeting on March 6, 2020, decided to advertise those properties for outsourcing to the private sector.
They said that the first advertisement for the leasing of 48 rest houses for a period of 10 years and it was published on Aug 17, 2020.

An official said that after evaluation, no bid was found to be completing technical requirements.
He said that 84 rest houses, which required minor repairs, were also advertised but initially, no party could meet technical qualifications.

The official said that in the meanwhile, the government also transferred five other rest houses in Nathiagali, including Governor’s House, Chief Minister’s House, Karnak House, Police Rest House and Hamala House, to the tourism department for outsourcing.

He said that the authority advertised the Karnak House and Police Rest House on Jan 11, 2021.
The official said that 14 firms applied for the bidding of the Karnak House.

He said that the highest bid quoted by Rockwood Resort was Rs4,650,000 and the award of contract was scheduled for May 10, 2021.

The official said that for the Police Rest House, 11 firms took part in the bidding and the highest bid was quoted Apical Ways at Rs6,450,000.

He said that the award of contract was scheduled for May 10.

The official said the 19 rest houses were advertised today for leasing out to private parties and their pre-bid meeting was likely to take place on May 26, while the technical bid would open on June 28.

He added that the bid evaluation report was due to appear by July 12, while the financial bid opening was likely to take place on July 28.

The official said the tentative award of contract would take place on August 10.

He said that 28 rest houses were re-advertised on Feb 1, 2021, and 11 firms took part in the bidding.

The official said that the 28 rest houses were in the process, which was likely to be finalised after Eid holidays.

He said that the Hamala Rest House was advertised for lease on May 6, its technical bid would open on June 24 and the tentative award of contract was likely to take place at the start of August.


Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2021
 
Rs649m plan developed for biodiversity conservation, eco-tourism promotion


Bureau Report
May 13, 2021

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wildlife department will spend Rs649 million on the conservation of biodiversity and promotion of eco-tourism through livelihood improvement at the Sheikh Badin National Park in Dera Ismail Khan district.

The Sheikh Badin mountain range, which was given the status of the national park in 2003, is a sub-project of the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Afforestation Programme (BTAP).

According to the official documents, Rs565.957 million of the total allocated funds will be utilised on conservancy and other works in the park.

The officials said PC-I of the project had been approved and the wildlife department, the executing body, was set to launch the scheme soon.

Three years initiative to be executed in DI Khan national park

This is the first major intervention under the 10 BTAP to ensure conservation of biodiversity in the province.

10 BTAP is a joint initiative of the federal and provincial governments with an aim to revive forest and wildlife resources in the country, improve the overall conservation of the existing protected areas, and encourage eco-tourism, community engagement and job creation through conservation activities. The estimated cost of the programme (2019-2023) is Rs125.1843 billion.

The Sheikh Badin National Park is spread over 15,540 hectares at the junction of Dera Ismail Khan and Lakki Marwat districts.

The park having sub-tropical pine forest and sub-tropical scrub forest serves as habitat for different wild species, including black partridges, grey partridges, chakor partridges, blue rock pigeons, foxes, hares, jackals, jungle cats, wild boars and wolves.

Flora and fauna apart, the Sheikh Badin National Park has historical significance. It has the British-era Old Dak Bungalow, shrine of Sufi saint Pir Sheikh Bahauddin, a 200-year-old mosque, gallows/well, and Circular Road built in the colonial period.

The British government had used the hill station as its summer headquarters housing all important offices, including police station, district magistrate, treasury, commissioners and a small hospice. The entire infrastructure was developed in 1860.

Under the plan, the Dak Bungalow, after the completion of restoration and conservation work, will be used as cultural, historical and natural history museum of the Sheikh Badin National Park.

Currently, the Old Dak Bungalow and other historical sites are in dilapidated condition. According to official documents, Rs21.518 million has been allocated for the preservation of the old bungalow.

“Sheikh Badin will be developed as a model national park,” an official of the wildlife department said, adding that the park would be a source of promoting eco-tourism centre in the southern region of the province.

He said KP had a total of six national parks and two of them were located in Chitral district. The official said the project also carried incentives for the local communities that included the provision of various natural resource and livelihood improvement trainings.

He said major components of the project are the conservation of flora and fauna through the participation of local communities and development of the park as a destination of eco-tourism.

The official said tourist lodges would be constructed over 6,000 squares feet area.

He said major objectives of the three years project were the promotion of eco-tourism, protection of indigenous fauna and flora along with habitat of the national park, improvement of socio-economic conditions of the local communities, and creation awareness of the

importance of the national parks and wildlife conservation among the local population.

The official said for the promotion of eco-tourism, the establishment of camping sites within the park, tourist lodges, park cafeteria, maintenance of the existing access road, and restoration of historical tracks and trails were major components of the project.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2021
 
Stunning View of Mahodand Lake, Swat valley


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