ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan says Pakistan’s soft image can only be portrayed through the promotion of tourism, which would not only generate revenue but also provide employment opportunities.
Presiding over a meeting of the National Coordination Committee on Tourism in Islamabad, the prime minister said that Pakistan is blessed with different climatic zones and numerous untapped tourist spots. He said the government is focused on eco-tourism to ensure environmental conservation while managing tourist spots.
The prime minister said the federal government would provide all possible facilitation to the provincial governments for development and promotion of the tourism sector in the country.
Special Assistant for Overseas Pakistanis Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari briefed about the progress on development of tourism sector. He also apprised the meeting that substantial work had been undertaken for development of religious tourism.
He said incentives would be provided in the import of machinery and equipment for the promotion of the hospitality sector He also presented Tourism Development Plan 2020-21 that includes preparation of the master plan for 40 sites, seven theme parks and development of sixty new sites to ease burden on existing sites and ensure quality services for tourists.
He stated that geo-mapping of all existing and potential tourism sites, strategies for promotion, anti-encroachment drive on tourist spots and waste disposal plans are underway.
Minister for Industries Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan, SAPM for Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari, Minister for Tourism Gilgit Baltistan Samina Baig, Minister for Tourism Azad Jammuand Kashmir Mushtaq Minhas and Managing Director PTDC Intikhab Alam attended the meeting.
