Gorakh Hill Station to become international standard tourist resort

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday said that he was keen to develop Gorakh Hill Station as a tourist resort of international standard for which he directed to engage an international firm through international tenders.

“Chairman planning & development should prepare a master plan of the Gorakh Hill Station and get it approved from the board. The other development of the station would be made according to the master plan,” he said while presiding over a meeting on Gorakh Hil Station here at the CM House.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Culture Syed Sardar Shah, Chairman Gorakh Hill Station Rafiq Jamali, Principal Secretary to CM Naveed Kamran Baloch, Chairman P&D M Waseem, Secretary Culture Akbar Leghari, Commissioner Hyderabad Sohail Rajput, Director General Gorakh Hill Aijaz Mangi and others.

The CM directed the P&D to involve Public Private Partnership (PPP) Unit and plan its development under PPP mode.

“I want to develop Gorakh Hills Station on international standards, therefore an international firm be involved for which tender may be floated at the earliest,” he said.

Syed Sardar Shah said that development of summer resort of Gorakh Hills was approved at Rs2543.066 million and so far Rs494.209 million have been utilized against the released amount of Rs500 million.

He said by the end of June 2017 total utilization would come to around Rs994.209 million and remaining funds of Rs1548.857 million would be allocated in the upcoming budget.

The minister for culture said that 12 resorts are under construction and they would be ready shortly. He proposed to establish a boarding school or a police training center at the Hill station to start permanent settlement there. On this the chief minister directed Chairman P&D Waseem to put up proposal.

Gorakh Hill station is spread over 1300 acres flat land, otherwise it has a vast area where different settlements could be established. This is the only place in Sindh where snow falls.

Details of the works completed or in progress include repair of causeways, establishment of summer resorts and laying down of 50 diameter water supply line.

At present Gorakh Hilll peak can be reached with 4X4 vehicle which are available from Dadu, Johi and Wahi Pandhi towns.