Peshawar (Bureau Report):
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has launched an important initiative under its Home Stay Scheme by introducing the “Mezban Program” to promote tourism, generate employment for local communities, and ensure economic self-reliance. Under the program, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa distributed cheques of interest-free loans among beneficiaries.
Chief Minister Suhail Afridi said that the primary objective of the initiative is to boost tourism while providing respectable livelihood opportunities to local residents. During the briefing, it was shared that under the Mezban Program, interest-free loans of up to Rs 3 million are being provided to residents of tourist areas, and so far, cheques have been distributed among 95 individuals.
According to the briefing, residents of Swat, Upper Chitral, Lower Chitral, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Abbottabad, and Mansehra are benefiting from the program. Through this initiative, national and international tourists will be able to stay in private homes with quality accommodation, hospitality, and a homely environment.
The Chief Minister stated that the government aims not only to generate income but also to ensure dignity and respect for the people. He said that despite limited resources, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf provincial government is investing in its people to put the province and country on the path of development.
He added that since 2022, the nation has been suffering from severe inflation, while more than Rs 4,000 billion in dues owed to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by the federal government remain unpaid. Suhail Afridi further alleged that, according to an IMF report, corruption worth Rs 5,300 billion has surfaced at the federal level, accusing corrupt rulers of misusing public funds for personal luxuries.
The Chief Minister concluded by saying that investing in people is the true guarantee of national development, and those who undermine the public mandate should reflect on the direction in which the country is heading.