Fighting terrorism through tourism!

Adil Zareef

The enterprising Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti has recently proposed a $4 billion peace package by the provincial government for social development sectors as well as fighting the intractable jihadis in our the war-torn province. He has rightly touched upon the need to address socio-economic needs of the population as a touchstone for healing the deep scars of terrorism that has paralysed the economy.

In fact it is a Catch-22 situation, where extreme poverty breeds desperation, thus leading to extremism. To tide over extremism would need a long haul and a multi-pronged approach. Should “war on terrorism” proceed as usual or peace given a chance? Peace and prosperity are interlinked just like desperation and terrorism. Therefore, reversing this vicious cycle by generating the economic opportunities and exploring meaningful livelihoods for the desperately deprived sections of population is a rational way out. It seems sanity is dawning on the architects of previous gung-ho policy.

Besides, hydel profit and tobacco, the tourist industry, is one of our major income generating industry that has been seriously hit by the recent spate of terrorism. Boosting 70% of the renowned tourist spots of Pakistan, there has been a 90% decline in foreign tourists, since 2001. Sarhad Tourism Corporation (STC) has demanded a $40 million relief package as compensation from the federal government for the loss of revenue of a billion dollar industry that has suffered incalculable losses.

Azam Khan, the dynamic MD, STC, who sincerely wants to turn over a new leaf in the redundant system, recently wrote a memorandum to the provincial government: “Our mountains, valleys, plains, green forests and lush meadows, our historical monuments and lofty traditions were known for their beauty and recreation of visitors from all over. They never were meant to be, day in and day out in the news, for terrorism and militancy. We need your active participation to bring back and highlight the lost lustre of this land and its people. Would you make your contribution to changing the current perception of the world about the Frontier – from being a land of hostility to its original theme of being a land of hospitality?”

To remedy this distorted image, STC has already planned a year-long activity schedule throughout the province, to give a boost to domestic tourism, generate healthy activities and competition and to highlight the region for positive images than for terrorism.

Sarhad Conservation Network that has been lobbying for conservation of natural and built heritage and healthy lifestyle, since 2002, was honoured to be taken on board for this initiative. Many cultural, literary and tourist activities are under consideration in partnership with STC during current year. On 10th May the first cultural evening is being planned at the historic Sethi house.

The promotional reads: ‘Deep in the old walled city of Peshawar, Mohallah Sethian is a living monument to the provincial capital’s glorious past. More than a hundred and fifty years old, its interconnected houses were built for the Sethi family, one of the great business dynasties of the subcontinent. Hidden inside these houses, covering their ceilings and walls like a mantle, is decorative woodwork of exquisite quality and chandeliers dating to the Tsarist Russia. Through a galaxy of pre-Islamic, Moghul, Sikh and even British motifs, much of Peshawar’s rich and variegated cultural and architectural history can be traced.’

The proposed event will help to revive cultural tourism in the walled city, bring about general awareness and also help in conservation of the old heritage sites as envisioned under the plan of the provincial cultural department.

This historic house was acquired by the Directorate of Archaeology & Museums Government of NWFP in 2006, after hectic lobbying of the civil society against its sale to a big proprietor who wanted to demolish it to erect a skyscraper. This pilot project is meant to identify important cultural/ heritage landmarks and traditions of the city and try to turn them into tourist spots on regular basis.

It is planned to arrange for a khehwa khana inside, as well as serve Kashmiri tea along with traditional snacks and traditional music in the backdrop. Story telling by heritage experts about the history of Sethian houses and expert spotlight lightening up of its architectural beauty - and print its history with photos as souvenir photo cards/ brochures for tourists are planned.

Azam Khan argues, “I would venture to say that one of the ways to defeat terrorism or militancy is through ‘dry the swamps’ approach, and the swamp in our case is poverty and unemployment. Tourism has a multiplier effect in the target area. It gives rise to multi-sectoral employment and generates multi-dimensional economic activity. Thus while terrorism and militancy is definitely a damper on tourism, struggling to develop tourism against all odds could well cut at the very roots of terrorism/militancy by diverting the manpower feeding it to more productive gains. In any case it is better than doing nothing and ‘waiting for Godot’. Don’t you think?”

SCN concurs with this perception as we desperately need robust institutions as well as individuals of magnanimity and acumen to take further the great cause – of peace, happiness, celebration and laughter – which as a nation, we tend to have lost in the tangle of national tragedies and adversities. We need to collect our collective psyche for collective good and service. So let’s begin now.

The writer is a general secretary Sarhad Conservation Network and may be contacted at scn_pk@yahoo.com