Youth hostels and tourism

ISLAMABAD: This is with reference to the editorial “The return of tourism” (July 5). In 1947, the Pakistan Youth Hostel Association (PYHA) succeeded from the Indian Youth Hostels regime to endeavour to develop youth tourism. The PHYA serves about 50,000 students every year in cities across the country. However, objections from the government sometimes slow down the pace with which it works. Moreover, the PHYA functions without financial support from any quarter, including the government. It is thankful to the standing committees of the Senate and National Assembly because the Senate’s former standing committee on culture and tourism asked the ministry of tourism to assign priority to youth hostels and the National Assembly also recommended building more youth hostels.

However, the government has not taken notice of these recommendations. In recognition of PHYA’s contribution, the PHYA urges the government to extend support to its activities.

Agha Afzaal Hussain

Honorary secretary

Pakistan Youth Hostel Association

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2010.