FAISALABAD, July 20: The government intends to bring changes in the Travel Agencies Act to ensure quality services for the pilgrims and tourists.

This was stated by Federal State Minister for Culture and Tourism Rais Munir Ahmed while speaking to participants at an inauguration ceremony of a travel agency here on Sunday.

The federal minister said the government had already issued notices to 72 Pakistani travel agencies blacklisted by the Saudi government for the poor performance and an action would be taken against them as per rules and regulations.

He pointed out that following the special instructions of the prime minister, members of the federal cabinet would travel to Saudi Arabia to supervize the best possible facilities to pilgrims.

Frantic efforts were being made by the present regime to promote the tourism culture in the country, he said and added that the government was also planning to introduce a comprehensive package for the local tourists.

The northern areas were more beautiful than Europe and America and the government was planning to develop tourist resorts there with the help of Saudi investors and tour operators to help government in its efforts to develop tourism in the country, he said.

The comprehensive Haj policy announced by the government would resolve all problems faced previously by the pilgrims, he said. Stern action, the minister said, would be taken against the government officials if they found involved in any mismanagement.

The present regime was committed to provide better services to pilgrims as well as tourists for which all possible resources would be utilized, he added.