SRINAGAR : Minister for Health & Medical Education, Social Welfare, and Education, Sakeena Itoo, chaired a high-level meeting to review developmental issues in the DH Pora Constituency, with a particular focus on tourism potential and infrastructure enhancement.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Kulgam, Athar Aamir-ul-Shafi Khan; Chief Engineer KPDCL; Joint Director, Tourism Kashmir; Executive Engineers from PHE and PDD Kulgam, CMO Kulgam, and other district officials.
During the meeting, the Minister reviewed ongoing development initiatives and discussed untapped tourism opportunities in the region. She highlighted the scenic and ecological value of Aharbal, Kongwattan, Kounsarnag, and Panchan Pathri—urging the concerned departments to promote the area as a holistic tourist circuit.
Emphasizing the need to develop Panchan Pathri as a hub for trekking and adventure tourism, the Minister directed the tourism department to identify new trails and activities such as paragliding, ziplining, and hot air ballooning. She underlined the importance of sustainable development and community engagement, calling for capacity-building programs for local youth in areas such as tourist guiding, eco-tourism, homestays, and heritage trails.
“Tourism has the potential to drive economic growth and generate employment in the region if developed in an inclusive and sustainable manner,” she stated.
To enhance the tourist experience, the Minister called for improved sanitation, mobile connectivity, safety measures, signage, and parking infrastructure at key locations across DH Pora. She stressed on the installation of wayfinding signages to ease navigation for visitors.
The Minister also reviewed essential services, directing the Chief Engineer KPDCL to address the issue of inflated electricity bills in remote areas of the constituency. She called for the early renovation and operationalization of the Mini Secretariat building at DH Pora to house government offices, ensuring better accessibility for the public.
Further, she instructed departments to expedite pending projects, upgrade road connectivity to tourist and remote areas, and prioritize the implementation of eco-friendly infrastructure.
