News
Crash program for rehabilitating tourism industry prepared
ISLAMABAD, Nov 04 : The Government has prepared a crash program for the rehabilitation of the tourism industry badly affected by the recent killer earthquake.
The monstrous earthquake of October 8 besides killing thousand of people and destroying houses, buildings and road networks on a very large scale in Pakistan and AJK also badly affected the tourism industry ; as the quake ravaged areas once were the places of great attraction for the foreign and local tourists, which now present a horrible look.
The Ministry of Tourism has now prepared a crash program for rehabilitating tourism , which before October 8 fetched foreign exchange for the Government and generated jobs for the locals.
The blue print of the plan will be presented to the Prime Minister for approval after Eid-ul Fitr.
Under the plan envisaged , necessary infrastructures in Balakot, Abbottabad and other such affected areas will be rebuilt before the advent of Summer season in the country and AJK.
In an exclusive interview with NNI, the Federal Minister for Tourism Dr. G.G. Jamal disclosed that tourism was the main source of income of the areas affected by the massive earthquake and formed sixty per cent of the GDP.
To collect revenue, he said , it was imperative to reconstruct the destroyed infrastructure to attract tourists.
The Minister further disclosed that in view of the quake ravages “ Visit Pakistan year” will now be launched in 2007 instead of 2006 as proposed earlier.
The Minister further said that the income accrued from tourism in 2006 will be spent on the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction program and the amount will be deposited in the President’s Relief Fund for the said purpose.
Dr Jamal pointed out that today rehabilitation of the quake affected people is the biggest problem.
He further said that ten per cent income of the PTDC motels will be deposited in the President’s relief fund for next two years.
On this occasion , he appealed to the foreigners and overseas Pakistanis to undertake a tour of Pakistan and AJK in the next summer so that the income in the form of foreign exchange may be diverted on the relief and rehabilitation and reconstruction activities.
He said that Pakistan Travel and Tour Operators has donated ten lakh rupees for the relief work , besides two truck load of relief goods.
He further said that Thai Airways has resumed direct flight from Bangkok to Islamabad on his request .
Initially two flights will operate and later the number of flights will be increased, he added.