ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has asked ministry of tourism to make coordinated and concerted efforts to promote tourism by focusing on country’s Mughal heritage, vast potential of religious tourism and the natural beauty of Northern areas.
Chairman a meeting at the Prime minister’s House on Monday on tourism, he said that Pakistan has vast potential in religious tourism, its Northern Areas which have some of the highest peaks of the world possesses awesome scenic beauty and also Pakistan is the house of some of the most ancient civilizations. Also some cities have great historical and cultural value but the country has not so far leveraged. Its tourism potential, the prime minister said.
"Pakistan which has vast tourism potential remains one of the most under marketed, undersold countries," the prime minister said.
The strategy will include recommendations about liberalization of visa regime, ease of movement for tourists better residential facilities particularly at sacred places of Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists.
He said that apart from helping to promote the correct image of the country, tourism development will be instrumental in creating jobs and improving the physical infrastructure of the country.
The strategy which will be submitted by Ministry of Tourism in four weeks will be prepared by them in coordination with private sector and all the related government departments. It will include recommendations about liberalization of visa regime, ease of movement for tourists, better residential facilities particularly at sacred places of Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists.
The meeting also reviewed recommendations of Task Force set up to suggest measures to revive tourism in earthquake affected areas.
ERRA will do a spot survey of the damaged hotels and submit cost estimates to repair them. Government will extend financially for super development on soft terms to establish model motels at some locations in NWFP and AJK. It will also establish tented tourist villages in Siran valley and other places.
The prime minister was informed that TUSDEC (ministry of Industries) is establishing four institutes on e each at Balakot, Shogran, Muzaffarabad and Bagh (Technology Up-gradation and Skill Development Company TUSDEC). PAITHOM (ministry of Tourism) is planning a soft opening of training hotel in March 2006. it will be a joint venture of Pakistan-Austria Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management_PAITHOM). Ministry of Tourism will develop new tourism sites including new trek between Shogran and Naran. Plans are being finalized to connect Kaghan valley with Siran valley and Shinkiari with Balakot. The Ministry will also develop tourism facilities at Dodipatsar Lake, Lolusar Lake, Raweri Meadow Lake and Ghazsar Lake.
The prime Minister also informed that special meeting of SAARC Tourism Ministries will be held at Naran in August (15-17) for which detailed programme is being worked out.
The meeting was attended among others by Mr Jahangir Khan Tareen, Minister for Industries and Special Initiatives, Dr Syed Ghazi Gulab Jamal, Minister for Tourism, State Minister for Finance Omar Ayub Khan, Ms Hina Rabbani Khar Minister of State for Economic Affairs Division and senior officials. | 
Health
