Lahore: Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab, Najam Sethi has said that the economy of Punjab and the country could be strengthened through promotion of tourism.  The Dispatch News Desk (DND) reported.
He was presiding over a high-level meeting with regard to promotion of tourism in the province at Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Saturday. Provincial Minister for Tourism, Salima Hashmi, Secretaries of Finance, Law, Tourism, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Managing Director Punjab Tourism Development Corporation and experts from private sector attended the meeting.
On the occasion, he said that there was great potential of promotion of tourism activities in Punjab. He said that tourism could be promoted through evolving an effective and solid strategy. The Chief Minister directed to constitute a committee comprising representatives of public and private sectors which should evolve a practicable plan for promotion of tourism and submit its report within seven days.
Addressing the meeting, Najam Sethi said that public private partnership was of great importance for the promotion of tourism activities and there was a need of taking solid and effective steps for that purpose. He said that modern infrastructure was essential for promoting tourism according to the demands of present era. The Chief Minister said that tourism activities could be enhanced by providing best facilities to the tourists. He said that foreign tourists could also be attracted by highlighting the soft image of Pakistan abroad.
Najam Sethi said that tourism sector could not be ignored at any cost as economy could be strengthened by promoting tourism. He said that a number of countries had got economic stability through promotion of tourism. The Chief Minister said that economy of the country could be strengthened by including promotion of tourism in the priorities. He said that Tourism Department should play its active and vibrant role for promotion of tourism activities and provide best facilities to the tourists. He said that promotion of tourism was very important as business activities could be enhanced through it. Najam Sethi said that Punjab Tourism Development Corporation should work more actively for the promotion of tourism activities and cooperation of private sector in that regard should also be considered.
Secretary Tourism and Managing Director Punjab Tourism Development Corporation gave briefings about the tourism opportunities and the steps taken for the promotion of tourism activities in the province. Participants of the meeting put-forth concrete suggestions for the promotion of tourism activities.
