KPK Minister for LG and Director Archeology visit Sheikh Badin National Park in DIK

PESHAWAR, January 25: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Faisal Amin Khan Gandapur and Director Archeology Dr. Abdul Samad Khan visited Sheikh Badin National Park in the remote mountainous area of Dera Ismail Khan District. This National Park is a historic tourist destination that was established by the British government in 1860 as its summer capital and many historic buildings were erected here besides a central and unique water reservoir wherein snow and rain water was stored and filtered for domestic use. Located on the eastern extension of the Suleiman Mountain range, the natural park covers an area of 15,540 hectares, with 41 species of birds and more than 100 species of trees.
Faisal Amin Khan Gandapur for the first time in history endeavours to revive this tourist spot. He approved Rs. 4 billion for metaling two roads leading to uphill the national park and repair of rest rooms for the tourists. Similarly, with the efforts of Dr. Abdul Samad, Director Archeology Department, the historic buildings at Sheikh Badin Top will be restored to their original condition. The minister thanked DrSamad for his sincere efforts in this regard.
The Minister on this occasion clarified that the steps taken by the provincial government would not only make this place attractive as a tourist destination for domestic and foreign tourists but also the historical heritage of Sheikh Badin would be revived. He said that he himself is an international tourist and wanted to the touristic destinations in our province flourish by leaps and bounds. He said the world standard of the national park is one thousand hectares while Sheikh Badin is one of the 20 major vast national parks of Pakistan. Therefore, restoration of its glory of the past is also a need of time, he concluded.-PR