Srinagar: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on April 19 announced setting up of a special task force (STF) for addressing the "pressing" problem of unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a press conference at the end of his two-day visit to the state, Vajpayee said the task force would submit its report to the government by June 30 and implementation on its recommendations would begin from August 15 this year.

The force would comprise representatives from the Centre, the state government, industries, finance, banks and financial institutions.

He said the aim was to create employment and self-employment for one lakh youth over the next two years.

Vajpayee also announced a comprehensive tourism revival plan and it would be worked out by June 30 this year by a special committee comprising representatives of the Union Tourism Ministry, state government and representatives of national and state level tourism industry.

To begin with, long term loans at low interests would be provided for improvements in about 1,200 houseboats in the Dal Lake and 500 hotels in Srinagar, the Prime Minister said.

He said tourism, which had a tremendous potential for generation of income and employment, had been badly hit by militancy.

PTI