The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has taken a landmark step to promote tourism by launching the “Home Stay” initiative under the Mezban (Host) Program, Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi said while distributing interest-free loan cheques among beneficiaries.The CM stated that the project aims to promote tourism, create employment opportunities for local communities, and ensure economic self-reliance.

Under the program, residents of tourist destinations are being provided interest-free loans of up to Rs3 million to establish home-stay facilities.According to an official briefing, cheques have so far been distributed among 95 beneficiaries under the Mezban Program. The scheme covers residents of Swat, Upper and Lower Chitral, Upper and Lower Dir, Abbottabad, and Mansehra.

Sohail Afridi said the initiative will enable national and international tourists to enjoy quality accommodation in private homes, offering them a sense of hospitality along with modern facilities. “The core objective of the Mezban Program is to provide tourists with warmth, dignity, and quality services,” he added.The CM emphasized that the KP government believes in earning with dignity and giving dignity, adding that despite limited resources, the PTI-led provincial government is investing directly in its people.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)