ISLAMABAD, Oct 16 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said that they are promoting tourism sector to generate revenue and address unemployment issue of the country, reported Xinhua news agency, quoting a statement from the Prime Minister Office here.
Chairing a meeting of the National Coordination Committee on Tourism, the prime minister said that they want to promote the country’s soft image for which tapping the potential of the tourism sector is very important, the official statement said on Thursday.
Pakistan has different climatic zones and numerous untapped tourist spots which can be promoted and projected to the world, Khan said, adding that his government is focused on ecotourism to ensure environmental conservation while managing tourist spots.
He said the Federal Government would provide all possible facilitation to the provincial governments to develop and promote the tourism sector in the country.
Speaking at the meeting, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari said that substantial work is being done for development of tourism; and in this regard, geo-mapping of all existing and potential tourism sites are underway.
The official also presented Tourism Development Plan 2020-21 including human resource capacity building, preparation of master plan for 40 sites, seven theme parks, development of 60 new sites, National Standards and Certification for quality services to tourists and 30 international standard feasibilities, the statement added.
Khan and his ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) have put promotion of tourism sector as one of the major goals for the economic uplift of the country, and in this regard several steps have been taken including revamping of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, easing visa restrictions for foreign tourists, promoting and marketing the sector on social media platforms, and assigning all Pakistani embassies across the world to organise events to invite people to visit Pakistan.
–BERNAMA