Realising the revenue-earning potential of tourism and the significant role that the tourism industry plays in carving a soft image of the country, Prime Minister Imran Khan has regularly been emphasising the need to promote this important sector. Presiding over a recent meeting of the National Coordination Committee, he said the government was focused on eco-tourism in order to simultaneously ensure environmental conservation and upgrade facilities at the tourist spots. He assured the provinces of all assistance from the Centre in promoting tourism.
At the meeting, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfiqar Bukhari presented the Tourism Development Plan, which will mainly focus on human resource capacity building, preparation of master plan for 40 places of tourist attraction, seven theme parks, development of 60 new spots, and the National Standards and Mechanism and Certification mechanism to provide quality service to tourists. This is an ambitious plan. However, the intended results will depend on how the development schemes are carried out. Words will have to match the deeds.
The government is also taking other measures for promotion of tourism. Anti-encroachment drives and waste disposal operations are underway at tourism sites. The tourism sector is being promoted under public-private partnership and the government is to provide incentives for import of machinery and equipment relating to tourism. Besides, the government has undertaken a substantial amount of development work for promotion of religious tourism. This is specially attracting tourists from Buddhist countries, as Pakistan has many ancient historical sites of religious significance. These sites date back to the times of Mauryan emperor Ashoka and other rulers of this dynasty. A sizeable number of rock edicts from Ashoka’s and later periods are in Pakistan. These archaeological sites hold special attraction for history enthusiasts.
Pakistan has great potential to attract tourists both from within the country and abroad. All efforts should be aimed at making the worth seeing places worth going to see.
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It is very disappointing for the sorry state of government negligence in Gilgit Baltistan, which despite having beautiful tourist oints, lash green valleys and high mountains and glaciers, is still sidelined in providing with basic health, education, and transportation facilities. Most importantly, the nerve racking difficult roads the sky rocketing fare of PIA from Islamabad to Skardu prevent visitors to promote this piece of heaven.