Unequal tourism

Pakistan has been blessed with a plethora of scenic regions ranging from mountains to deserts to green forests. But the tourism is wedged into two pieces. The prosperous ones get in their cars and travel throughout Pakistan. All in all, they have a blast of a time. The other half only dreams of tourism, looking at tourism channels on cable TV or smartphones and chatting about the scenery as if they have been there. This inequality of travel must be heeded by the government. The people who are suffering from inflation and lack of economic mobility have no path to visit the great sites of the country they call home. Free bus services to scenic areas, oceans and forests have to be set up and new routes developed, to allow a step-change in the current tourism market. The poor also have a right to enjoy the awe-inspiring and unblemished nature of Pakistan.

Yasser Shah

Lahore