ISLAMABAD ( STAFF REPORT )
Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired meeting of the National Coordination Committee on Tourism at Islamabad today.
Minister for Industries Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mr. Mahmood Khan, SAPM for Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari, Minister for Tourism Gilgit Baltistan Ms. Samina Baig, Minister for Tourism Azad Jammu & Kashmir Mr. Mushtaq Minhas, Secretary Cabinet Division, Managing Director PTDC Mr. Intikhab Alam and senior officers attended the meeting.
Advisor to CM Punjab on Tourism Mr. Asif Mehmood, Minister for Tourism Sindh Syed Sardar Ali Shah, Minister for Tourism Balochistan Mr. Abdul Khaliq Hazara, Chief Secretaries of Punjab, Khyber PakhtunKhwa, Sindh, Gilgit Baltistan; Provincial Secretaries of Tourism Departments participated through video link.
SAPM for Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari briefed the NCC in detail about the progress on development of tourism sector. He briefed that substantial work has been undertaken for development of religious tourism. Updating the NCC, SAPM stated that Geo Mapping of all existing and potential tourism sites, strategies for promotion, Public Private Partnership modalities, anti-encroachment drive on tourist spots and waste disposal plans are underway. In this regard, all provincial governments are on-board. For promotion of hospitality sector, incentives would be provided for import of machinery & equipment.
SAPM Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari also presented Tourism Development Plan 2020-21 that includes Human Resource capacity building, preparation of master plan for 40 sites, 7 theme parks, development of 60 new sites to ease burden on existing sites, National Standards and Certification mechanism to ensure quality services for tourists and 30 international standard feasibility.
Prime Minister stated that Almighty has blessed Pakistan with different climatic zones and numerous untapped tourist spots. The Government is focused on Eco-Tourism so that environmental conservation is also ensured while managing tourist spots, he emphasized.
Prime Minister Imran Khan said that soft image of Pakistan can only be portrayed through promotion of tourism that will also generate revenue and employment opportunities.
Prime Minister stated that Federal Government will provide all possible facilitation to Provincial Governments for development and promotion of tourism sector in the country.