World Bank to sponsor tourism projects in Pakistan

Pledges support to PTDC that will develop tourist resorts along CPEC route

ISLAMABAD: In a bid to promote Pakistan’s tourist attractions, the World Bank has pledged its support to the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC).

The bank is committed to developing tourist facilities and resorts in the country by sponsoring different projects.

These assurances came in a meeting held between PTDC officials and a World Bank delegation on Monday.

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PTDC Managing Director Abdul Ghafoor said the World Bank was also supporting the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), besides several other development projects, which would benefit over three billion people in the region.

The PTDC will develop tourist facilities and resorts along the CPEC route through joint ventures and private investments.

After restoration of peace in the country, a remarkable increase in foreign tourists has been recorded compared to previous years.

The planned projects include a bus terminal at Nankana Sahib, one motel each at Hawks Bay (Karachi), Moenjodaro and Baran Kalay as well as tourist facilitation centres in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Muzaffarabad, Gilgit, Peshawar and Quetta.

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Ghafoor told the delegation that PTDC land was open for investment specifically meant for tourism projects.

Delegation head, private-sector specialist and tourism expert Wouter Schalken said Pakistan’s tourist destinations were worth more than any other part of the world. “All we lack is appropriate publicity and promotion.”

“We recommend the PTDC to promote tourist destinations of the country over national and international media aggressively to bring more foreign tourists to Pakistan,” Schalken said. APP