Rs800m for tourism sector

LAHORE

The Punjab government has allocated Rs 800 million for the most neglected sector of tourism in its budget for the fiscal year 2016-17, slashing it to the tune of Rs 130 million as compared to 2015-16 year’s budgetary allocations of Rs 930 million, announced in the Punjab Assembly on Monday. 

This year the amount allocated for this most revenue -generation sector has been further slashed down to a significant amount of Rs 130 million as compared to the last year’s allocations. This year’s budgetary allocation of Rs 800 million shows that the Punjab government is not very keen in promoting and upgrading the tourist facilities in earnest due to the reasons best known to the Punjab government only. The previous four years budgetary allocations for the tourism sector tell a very dismal tale. It seems that either, due to the overall security situation and government’s lowest level of attention towards this highly productive and healthy sector.

This year’s ongoing schemes allocations include Feasibility Study for Installation of Cable Cars (Murree) with Rs 90 millions, Development of Eco Tourism in Soon Valley at Khabekhi and Uchali Lake, Khushab with Rs 45.121 millions, Lahore Tourist Bus Service with Rs 33.730 millions and Development of Resort for religious Tourism at Nankana Sahib with Rs 31.708 million.

New schemes in the budget for 2016-17’s fiscal year include, Development of Bansara Gali Surface Parking into Eco-friendly Entertainment Park with Rs 35 million, Development of Resort at Charehan Forest Rest House for Promotion of tourism with Rs 30 million and renovation& Beautification of Lake at Kalar Kahar with Rs 20 millions.