Pervaiz for celebrating Gandhara Week in befitting manner in Oct

Islamabad
Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid on Monday said the Gandhara Week should be celebrated in a befitting manner during October this year.
He directed that a summary to this effect should be moved for the approval of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
The minister was chairing a meeting of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation Board of Directors here.
He also asked the authorities concerned to extend invitation to eleven Buddhist countries to attend celebrations, including Buddhist scholars, journalists, writers and travel agents.
The minister also directed to invite ambassadors of different countries, in addition to local tour operators, travel agents, hoteliers and journalists.
He said the government was committed to promoting tourism in the country and holding of Ghandhra Week celebrations would explore new avenues for the growth of cultural tourism.
Terrorism had badly affected the tourism in Pakistan, but the present democratic government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was determined to reviving the tourism industry, he added.
Pervaiz Rashid said the government was making all-out efforts to restore peace so that it could provide a conducive environment for tourists to visit the resorts across the country.
The minister said that Pakistan was endowed with rich and diverse cultural and religious heritage and had everything which a tourist dreamt of.
He also underscored the need to improve and further develop tourist resorts as the development of the tourism industry would not only create new jobs but also become a source of economic growth by attracting foreign tourists and foreign exchange.
The Board in its 81st meeting decided about different inquiries against the unlawful acts of PTDC officers by referring to the Cabinet Division for appointment of an inquiry officer.
The Board also approved the shifting of PTDC office to Islamabad, subject to availability of funds. Besides, the Board approved the charter of demands submitted by the PTDC employees union.
On the issue of properties transfer to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, the minister said since the matter was subjudice, therefore, “we should wait for the verdict of honourable court and respect the same.”
Secretary Cabinet Division Raja Hasan Abbas and PTDC Managing Director Chaudhry Kabir Ahmad Khan were also present in the meeting.