CM gives nod to six tourism spots across Punjab

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar laid the foundation stone of roads infrastructure improvement plan of six tourist spots under tourism for economic growth project at 90-SQA on Friday.

The project has been launched in collaboration with the P&D Department and the World Bank. Addressing the ceremony on Friday, the CM said roads infrastructure would be improved with a cost of Rs830 million, adding that revamping of the 35-kilometre long roads would be completed in the first phase.

Tourism zone is being developed in the salt range consisting of Chakwal, Khushab and Mianwali and new tourist-spots are going to be introduced in Kotli Sattian, Chakwal, Jhelum, Soan Valley, Mianwali, Attock, Fort Munro and Koh-e-Suleman.

Along with it, the CM said steps would also be taken to promote tourism in Jhelum, Multan, Bahawalpur and other areas. “More projects will also be started to further promote tourism because a large potential of historic, cultural and religious tourism is available in Punjab,” he said. The CM said a programme was underway to restore Lahore Fort and other historic spots with an amount of four billion rupees.

“Tourist spots will also be developed under a public-private partnership, he disclosed.” The CM said a total of 176 rest houses have been opened to the general public through an online booking facility. The Punjab government has formulated tourism policy and a tourism authority has also been set up to promote tourism while software has been designed for online issuance and renewal of licenses of stakeholders.

He announced to project Chakwal as a lake city as several natural lakes were available in this historic district. Similarly, resorts were being established at various rivers and lakes to provide recreational facilities to the visitors. Such a resort facility is under construction at Taunsa Barrage to offer water sports activities, he added. The CM stated that double-decker tourist bus service is started in Rawalpindi and the facility will be extended to Bahawalpur, DG Khan and Multan soon.