Pakistan can generate $3.8b annually from tourism: governor

LAHORE: A committee headed by Punjab Governor Ch Muhammad Sarwar to promote religious tourism and national heritage has given approval to the annual celebrations according to the master plan on the 550th birth-anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak.

A conference of the committee to promote religious tourism and national heritage was held at Governor House with the governor in chair. Punjab Minister for Finance Hashim Jawan Bakht apprised the committee about the unhindered delivery of funds for the payments of acquired Land in Kartarpur and for promotion of religious tourism including preservation of national heritage.

The committee advised the completion of Kartarpur plan within the stipulated time. It also highlighted the need to revisit the security arrangements of Data Darbar and all other religious sites of minorities to prevent unwanted incidents. Apart from that, the committee also condemned the terrorist attack near Data Barbar.

During the conference, CEO of Pakistan Railway Aftab Akbar briefed the committee about the steps taken to facilitate Sikh Pilgrimage at Nankana Sahib and the renovations being carried out at railway stations to make traveling attractive. He assured the committee that the work will be completed before November. The committee was also briefed about the development projects and the security arrangements being carried out for Kartarpur Corridor. Provincial minister for Finance Hashim Jawan Bakht assured the delivery of funds for promoting religious tourism and heritage. He also assured the allocation of funds for timely payments of acquired land in Kartarpur complex.

While addressing the committee, chairman and Governor Ch Muhammad Sarwar said that Pakistan has a potential to generate revenue of 3.8billion dollars annually from tourism. The government has decided to promote tourism in general and religious tourism in particular and to make security arrangements appropriate accordingly. Pakistan is uniquely placed for tourism as people from diverse religious background including Hindus and Sikh holy places located in Pakistan. Pakistan has some of the most beautiful landscapes, mountains peaks, meadows and lakes in the world. However, the need of the hour is to bring political stability coupled with peace and awareness. To promote the religious tourism and heritage, media especially the social media can play a significant role, he said.

Govt to complete tenure: Sarwar hosted Iftar-Dinner in the honour of the PTI workers who came to meet him from Rawalpindi and Sargodha Divisions. Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat, Provincial Minister Raja Rashid Hafeez, ex-Provincial Minister for Information Fayyaz-ul-Hasan Chohan, MPAs Malik Nadeem Barra etc, ticket-holders and hundreds of other people attended the event.

Speaking on the occasion, the governor said that people gave mandate to PTI for five years and the government would complete its tenure. The PTI is determined to make Pakistan strong according to the vision of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal. The Opposition is distracting people from the genuine issues of governance, poverty alleviation and the eradication of corruption.

Sarwar said that PTI workers and people were its greatest strength and they were standing beside Imran Khan in his struggle against oppression, injustice and corruption. He said the whole nation had a staunch belief in its leader Imran Khan who is the last hope to make this country corruption-free and a truly democratic country where the people’s interests will be safeguarded.

The government is taking concrete steps instead of short-term temporary measures to put this country on the track of prosperity and progress, said Sarwar. Condemning the terrorist’s attack at a hotel in Gwadar, the governor said that terrorists could not make the nerves of this nation lowered by their terror tactics. The whole nation is convinced that they have to get rid of the menace of terrorism. For that matter, the whole nation is standing beside their armed forces.