Tourism sector ‘grossly neglected’
A view of the picturesque Kumrat valley which has turned out to be a new attraction for tourists. Photo: Express
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Caretaker Minister for Industry, Commerce and Revenue, Adnan Jalil on Thursday said that the economic development was the actual guarantor of county’s stability and K-P should be developed to attract tourists from across the globe.
He was addressing the inaugural session of the investment conference and international trade exhibition as chief guest.
This three-day exhibition under the 2nd Investment Conference and International Expo has been organized by the Pakistan Association of Exhibition Industry, while a large number of heads and representatives of companies related to the real estate and construction sector from across the province were present on the occasion.
The conference was attended by Director General Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority, Bakhtiar Khan, GM Investment Omair Khattak, Director Board of Investment and Trade Iqbal Ahmed, officials of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and founder chairman of the association Khursheed Barlas.
On this occasion, the speakers appreciated the actions and efforts of the caretaker provincial government, especially Adnan Jalil, for the restoration of industry, trade and economy in the province and assured their all-out support for in this regard.
The minister said that if only the tourism is mentioned, it has not been developed that much in K-P, adding that there was much potential to develop the province for international tourism.
He said all picturesque areas abroad have been transformed into tourist hubs and the governments there are earning billions and trillions of dollars from tourism.
However, he said that now the caretaker government is fully committed on the fast track for development of tourism and other sectors of industry and trade in the province.
He noted this is age of public private partnership (PPP) and his caretaker government is encouraging it because any development project can neither be run by the government alone.
Adnan Jalil further said that he has also called a meeting of all chambers of commerce and industries in addition to many other measures to provide the necessary environment for investment and industrialization and to strengthen economy of the province.
He maintained challenges faced by our industry will be openly discussed and not only sustainable solutions will be sorted out but also goals will be set up and its achievement will be ensured according to the timeline.
Pakistan Association of Exhibition Industry's Chairman Khurshid Barlas and other construction business and property companies’ representatives also addressed the event and highlighted the aims and objectives of this three-day international expo and conference on investment in K-P.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 17th, 2023.