KP’s Mezban scheme offers interest-free loans to convert private homes into tourist accommodation
PESHAWAR:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Thursday distributed checks for interest-free loans at a ceremony held at the Chief Minister House under the provincial government’s flagship ‘Mezban’ programme.
The event marked the second phase of the initiative, during which interest-free loan checks worth Rs 81 crore were given to 59 selected applicants. Officials informed attendees that in the first phase, 36 applicants had received interest-free loans worth Rs 72 million.
Under the Mezban program, local residents receive interest-free loans of up to Rs 3 million. The total cost of the program amounts to Rs 3,950 million, while Rs 2,000 million has been allocated in the budget for the current financial year. The program was launched in Swat, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Upper Chitral, Lower Chitral, Abbottabad and Mansehra.
The main objective of the initiative is to facilitate the accommodation of tourists in private homes and at the same time create sustainable employment opportunities for local communities.
Addressing the ceremony, the prime minister said that the provincial government was taking concrete steps to promote tourism in line with the vision of Imran Khan. He said the vision focused on investing in people so that they could prosper and contribute to the stability of the national economy, adding that the Mezban program was a practical manifestation of this approach.
He said the program was providing residents of tourism districts with opportunities to earn a living while highlighting the tourism potential of the province. “Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has immense tourism capacity and the government is working to utilize this potential for the economic stability of the province,” he said, expressing hope that the beneficiaries of the program will play a key role in achieving these goals.
The Prime Minister stressed that tourists should feel warmth, dignity and respect during their stay. “Apart from earning income, we must also give and earn respect. Tourists are guests of both the government and the hosts, so quality facilities must be ensured,” he added.
He reported that 125 people were selected within the framework of the plan, of which 89 already received interest-free loans. He reiterated that the selection process was carried out strictly on the basis of merit, emphasizing that merit and transparency were core policies of the provincial government and no commitment had been made in this regard.
Commenting on the political situation, the prime minister said the public has been facing difficulties since the regime change, with inflation continuously rising. He said those who had “usurped the public mandate” should reflect on the direction of the country, adding that their interests were in conflict with the public welfare.
Referring to an IMF report, he stated that corruption worth Rs 5.3 trillion had been identified. He expressed concern that the federal government was not releasing the province’s outstanding dues while indulging in lavish expenditure, resulting in discriminatory treatment towards Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
