Residents of key tourist areas will benefit from a paid tourist stay program
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has launched a new stay-at-home initiative aimed at promoting tourism, creating local jobs and improving livelihoods in key tourism regions of the province.
Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi distributed interest-free loan checks under the ‘Mezban’ (Host) scheme at a ceremony in Peshawar. Officials said the project would allow residents of tourist areas to offer accommodation to visitors in their own homes.
According to a government release, interest-free loans of up to Rs 3 million are being provided to residents to develop homestay facilities. So far, checks have been issued to 95 beneficiaries under the scheme.
The program is being rolled out in several tourist destinations including Swat, Upper and Lower Chitral, Upper and Lower Dir, Abbottabad and Mansehra.
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Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Afridi said the initiative would enable domestic and international tourists to access quality accommodation while enjoying local hospitality. He said the program aimed to combine income generation with dignity for host families.
“We want to win while giving respect, and earn respect by winning,” he said.
He added that despite limited resources, the provincial government was investing in its population. Chief Minister Afridi also criticized the federal government’s economic management, saying inflation had seriously affected the people since 2022.
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He said the federal government owed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over Rs4,000 billion in unpaid dues and added that corruption worth Rs5,300 billion had been highlighted in an International Monetary Fund report. He accused central leaders of misusing public funds, while emphasizing the need to invest more in citizens to support national development.
The provincial government says the Home Stay initiative aims to boost sustainable tourism while ensuring economic benefits reach local communities in some of the country’s most popular tourism destinations.
