Double-decker bus service to promote tourism in twin cities

Meeting finalises route that will cover famous tourist spots

RAWALPINDI: A double-decker bus service, aimed at promoting tourism in the Potohar region, has been finalised. Even though the bus will commence and culminate its route in Rawalpindi, most of the tourist destinations highlighted on the route are located in the twin city of Islamabad.

Punjab CM’s Adviser on Horticulture and Tourism Asif Mehmood held a meeting on Thursday in which the Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anwarul Haq, Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Director General Syed Shafqat Raza and other officials concerned participated.

Punjab Tourism Development Corporation (TDC) officials briefed the meeting about the bus service and the route it will adopt.

They said that the bus will pick tourists up from the Allama Iqbal Park in Rawalpindi and head towards the neighbouring federal capital.

In Islamabad, the tourists will visit different tourist spots including Faisal Mosque, Marghrzar Zoo, Daman-e-Koh, Constitution Avenue, Lok Virsa, Pakistan Museum of Natural History and Shakarparian.

After visiting all the spots, the bus will return to its starting spot in the garrison city via Faizabad.

Addressing the meeting, Mehmood said that the bus service aims to promote tourism in the Potohar region. Through this service, he said, foreign tourists would be able to learn about the history of the twin cities and its indigenous culture.

The adviser further announced to include additional tourism projects in the next fiscal budget. Later, the adviser and other officials visited the proposed route and also checked the condition of the buses.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2020.