PESHAWAR
A weekly review meeting on governance initiatives was held here on Monday under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shahab Ali Shah.
Senior officials from various departments participated in the meeting and were given detailed briefings on the progress of key initiatives.
During the meeting, special focus was placed on the measures being taken to improve conditions at tourist destinations across the province. The Chief Secretary was apprised of the steps being taken to ensure strict enforcement of provincial regulations in these areas. Officials informed the meeting that significant progress had been made in identifying hotels and restaurants with inadequate sewage and drainage systems.
According to the Secretary of the Tourism Department, under the directives of the provincial government, the Galiyat Development Authority inspected 145 establishments, of which 40 were found non-compliant with legal requirements. Similarly, the Kalash Valleys Development Authority inspected 56 sites and identified 14 as non-compliant. In the Kaghan Development Authority’s jurisdiction, out of 377 inspections, 193 establishments were found in violation of regulations. In Upper Swat, 106 out of 231 hotels and restaurants did not meet the legal criteria, while in Kumrat, 34 out of 71 establishments were found lacking in compliance.
The meeting was informed that all non-compliant establishments have been given a 14-day deadline to rectify their sewage and drainage systems. These measures aim at improving the experience of tourists, ensure environmental protection, and promote business and investment, ultimately benefiting the local population.
The meeting also reviewed progress on digital governance initiatives. Preparations for the implementation of the e-office system have been completed, with the first phase scheduled to launch on May 30. Training sessions for government departments are in their final stages.
Additionally, 1,543 tenders have already been uploaded to the newly introduced e-procurement system, known as EPADS. The use of any method other than EPADS for tenders has been prohibited.
The introduction of the e-office and EPADS systems is expected to enhance transparency and improve overall performance across government departments.
