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 where interest-free loan checks worth Rs 81 million were handed over to 59 successful applicants. Officials briefed the assembly that 36 applicants in the first phase had received interest-free loans of Rs 72 million.
Under the Mezban programme, local residents are provided with interest-free loans of up to Rs3 million. The total cost of the program is Rs 3.95 billion, while Rs 2 billion has been allocated in the budget for the current financial year. The program has been launched in Swat, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Upper Chitral, Lower Chitral, Abbottabad and Mansehra.
The primary purpose of the initiative is to make it easier for tourists to stay overnight in private homes and at the same time create sustainable employment opportunities for the local communities.
Addressing the ceremony, the chief minister said the provincial government was taking concrete steps to promote tourism in line with Imran Khan’s vision. He said the vision focused on investing in people so that they could prosper themselves 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 provided opportunities for residents of tourist districts to earn a living while highlighting the province’s tourism potential. “Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has huge tourism capacity and the government is working to tap this potential for the economic stability of the province,” he said, expressing hope that the beneficiaries of the program would play a key role in achieving these goals.
The Chief Minister emphasized that tourists should feel a sense of warmth, dignity and respect during their stay. “Along with earning revenue, we also have to give and earn respect. Tourists are guests of both the government and the hosts and hence quality facilities must be ensured,” he added.
He stated that 125 people had been selected under the scheme, of which 89 have already received interest-free loans. Reiterating that the selection process was conducted solely on merit, he stressed that merit and transparency were the core policies of the provincial government and no compromise had been made in this regard.
Commenting on the political situation, the Chief Minister said that the public had been facing difficulties since the change of regime, with inflation rising continuously. He said those who had “usurped the public mandate” should reflect on the direction of the country, adding that their interests conflicted with public welfare.
Citing an IMF report, he claimed that corruption of 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 spending, resulting in discriminatory treatment of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
