Jammu and Kashmir elections: Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday promised that if his party Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) is voted to power then he will focus on developing the tourism sector to eradicate unemployment from the Union territory.
While addressing a massive rally in the Pulwama district, Azad assured horticulture-rich Pulwama would receive further impetus to the industry with modern fruit Mandi, speedy transportation to ferry apple crops to Mandis across the country and provide extensive support to increase apple production.
Basic necessities will be upgraded on modern lines
He also promised to explore ways and means to grow tourism in the area which is bestowed with beautiful meadows, springs, and mountains and has the potential to attract tourists. "The basic necessities like hospitals, roads and other facilities will be upgraded on modern lines to ensure the quality of life is improved for common people," he said.
Azad further said that if he is elected to power, he would work on resolving the persistent issue of highway blockades due to landslides between Ramban and Banihal. "The focus will be on tourism to tackle the problem of unemployment. The youngsters should become hoteliers, restaurateurs and other service providers in tourist places. The 'ponywala' should be local, and the labourer should also be local. This will be all-round employment. The youths should not need to go even to another district for employment," he said.
Road connectivity and electricity to make world-class tourist destinations
To make world-class tourist destinations, the two main things needed are road connectivity and electricity, Azad said, adding, "Be it Shadimarg or Gulshanmarg, we will have to make it like Gulmarg so that people come from all over the world. For that, we need two things – electricity supply and road connectivity."
"For our fruit transportation, the Ramban to Banihal stretch has become a problem. This 20-kilometre stretch is almost closed for six months a year due to which our fruit reaches Qazigund and rots there," he added.
(With PTI inputs)
