Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi distributed interest-free loan cheques under the “Meezban” program. The primary objective of this initiative is to promote tourism in the province, create employment opportunities for local residents, and make them economically self-sufficient.
Under the “Host” program, interest-free loans of up to Rs 3 million are being provided to individuals in tourist areas. To date, cheques have been distributed to a total of 95 recipients. Residents of Swat, Upper Chitral, Lower Chitral, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Abbottabad, and Mansehra are benefiting from this program.
In his address at the ceremony for the “Host” program, Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi emphasised that the initiative aims to provide national and international tourists with quality accommodation in private homes, where they will receive hospitality and better facilities. The goal is not only to generate income but also to foster respect and goodwill among visitors.
Despite limited resources, the provincial government led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is committed to investing in its people, even as the nation has been facing significant inflation since 2022. The province currently owes more than Rs 4,000 billion to the federation, while the IMF has approved a package of Rs 5,300 billion for the federal government. Additionally, reports of corruption within the government have been published.
The Chief Minister criticised the corrupt rulers at the federal level, who are enjoying luxury at the expense of the people’s money. In contrast, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is focused on investing in its citizens and steering the country towards development. He urged those misusing the public mandate to seriously consider the direction in which the country is headed.
