Thandiani project targets Rs23bn private investment

According to Mettis Link News, the Galiyat Development Authority anticipates roughly Rs23 billion of private money flowing into the Thandiani Integrated Tourism Zone scheme, which could also bring about Rs2.5bn in revenue to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration. Director General Mohammad Fawad explained that the scheme covers close to 400 kanal of land and aims to build contemporary visitor facilities without disturbing the area's natural setting.

The authority expects the private spending to create jobs and boost business activity locally. Alongside this, the GDA has moved to curb environmental harm and unplanned building across Galiyat. Concrete building has been prohibited for the past year, and prefabricated and wooden structures are now required. Under the new Building Control Regulations, maximum heights in sensitive ecological and tourism zones fall from seven floors to five.

Other measures include electric sightseeing carts at major tourist spots to reduce congestion and pollution, plus a water treatment plant under construction in Nathiagali. The plant is meant to stop sewage and wastewater from contaminating natural springs and fresh water supplies. The GDA described the Thandiani plan as a move toward lower-impact tourism while seeking private capital for the province's tourism sector.