Cabinet meets in Pahalgam to discuss tourism revival, Yatra preparedness

May 27, 2025 by News Desk

In a significant move aimed at restoring confidence and boosting tourism, the Jammu Kashmir cabinet, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, convened a meeting in Pahalgam, Anantnag district, on Tuesday afternoon.

This is the first time the cabinet has met outside the traditional venues of the Civil Secretariat or the Chief Minister’s residences in Srinagar and Jammu.

The meeting comes in the wake of the April 22 attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 people, including 25 tourists, a tragedy that severely impacted the region’s tourism industry. Holding the meeting in Pahalgam is being seen as both a symbolic and administrative gesture to reinforce stability and encourage the revival of normalcy in the region.

Officials said the cabinet focused on strategies to rejuvenate the tourism sector and finalize preparations for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra. The meeting’s location was deliberately chosen to signal the government’s commitment to equitable governance and to instill public trust in the state’s ability to function normally in all regions.

The decision follows Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s remarks at the recent NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting, where he urged the central government to encourage public sector units to hold meetings in Kashmir and explore the possibility of conducting parliamentary committee sessions in the Valley.

Officials believe that such initiatives can play a vital role in reviving economic activity, especially in tourism, which has taken a hit since the April attack. The government hopes this move will help project Jammu and Kashmir as a stable and welcoming destination for visitors and investors alike. (With inputs from KNO)