Srinagar, June 02:(KNS) General Secretary Jammu and Kashmir Apni party and former MLA Pahalgam Rafi Ahmed Mir today welcomed the visit of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to District Anantnag to review Covid containment and preventive majors in the district.

In a statement, Mir said that the people of District Anantnag feel immensely satisfied with the efforts of district administration and the district police towards Covid mitigation and the rapid vaccination drive is commendable.

He also suggested achieving a hundred per cent vaccination of tourism stakeholders at tourist resort Pahalgam so that the destination can open up to local tourists in a phased manner. Stating that Pahalgam’s economy has suffered a lot, Mir demanded the government to devise workable guidelines for the Hoteliers as well as the arriving local tourists so that an impetus can be provided to the local economy of Pahalgam.

He said that the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 second wave on the tourism sector including the millions of livelihoods it sustains is a major concern and it will be appropriate for the government to open up Pahalgam in a phased manner with strict implementation of guidelines.

On the role of journalists, Mir said that their contribution throughout the crisis has been immense in providing credible information to the people and strengthening the roots of democracy.

He demanded the Lt. Governor to categorise journalists as Corona warriors given their selfless determination to report from ground zero in these tough times, the statement read.(KNS)