MANSEHRA: Federal minister for narcotics control Azam Khan Swati has said the ban on tourist activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be lifted next week.

“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s economy hugely depends on tourism industry, so Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Mahmood Khan have jointly decided to allow the resumption of tourist activities in the province from Tuesday,” Mr Swati told reporters here on Saturday.

The minister said if only Kaghan tourism industry was examined, the Covid-19 lockdown had badly hit it and rendered hundreds of thousands of employees.

“The government doesn’t want to waste more time as half of the tourism season has passed and is going to reopen the industry ensuring that hoteliers, transporters and others related to it follow standard operating procedures,” he said.

Minister says govt fighting virus, economic crisis simultaneously

Mr Swati said the people didn’t follow the government’s guidelines on coronavirus prevention, so lockdown could be tightened.

Earlier, the minister told workers of the ruling PTI during a meeting here to serve the people during Covid-19 pandemic.

“The government is fighting the virus and economic crisis at the same time, so it seems almost impossible to enforce a complete lockdown yet again as such a move will shatter economy,” he said.

WHEAT TRANSPORTATION: The flour millers have demanded of the federal government to ask the Punjab government to lift the ban on the transportation of its wheat to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“The Punjab government’s ban on wheat transportation to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa led to the closure of our flour mills and unemployment of thousands of workers,” spokesman for the Pakistan Flour Mills Association Malik Muzzaffardin told reporters here on Saturday.

He said the KP government had suspended wheat supply to over 180 flourmills from May 15 like before.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan should ask the Punjab chief minister, who also belonged to the ruling PTI, to do away with the wheat movement ban to ensure smooth supplies to flour mills in KP,” he said.

Mr Muzzaffardin said the food department was purchasing wheat from growers leaving no room for millers.

THREE KILLED: Three people, including a woman, were killed in separate incidents here on Saturday.

Resident Mohammad Javed killed Mohammad Ijaz and his mother in Riar Bala area of Darband tehsil.

The police said it was an honour killing case and they had begun search for the killer after registering FIR.

Also, resident Mohammad Qasim killed his brother-in-law over a monetary dispute and fled in Ghanala area of Balakot tehsil.The police booked the killer and began raids to arrest him.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2020