ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Managing Director Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor Khan said on Friday that PTDC was working in sports, fine arts and tourism sectors to introduce new features of tourism in the country.
Talking to the State-run Pakistan Television, he said that existing PTDC motels were being upgraded adding that “We are exploring new areas where new motels will be setup.”
There were numerous places in Pakistan where tourist facilities could be developed and PTDC would play a pivotal role in this development, he added.
To a question, he said that “We are in process of finalizing some agreements with international airlines and to educate youth in the sector, proposals are under consideration with different universities to introduce B.S. degree programs through Higher Education Commission (HEC) so that we may get quality manpower for the sector.”
He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif desired that Pakistan should be recognized as brand of quality tourism all over the world so that tourism sector could contribute to the economy by earning foreign exchange for the country.
The managing director PTDC said that there were countless opportunities for Pakistan where 5 out of 14 world’s highest peaks and largest glaciers were present, adding that “The valleys, lakes, deserts and other tourist attractions make it matchless.”
“We are about to launch Islamabad City Bus Tour Service very soon. Chakwal has been declared as Model Tourist District and meetings with the heads of Chambers of Commerce and Industries are also in progress,” he said.
“We have requested the Prime Minister to include tourism in National Development Plan and also retain PTDC on federal level,” he added.
