29 May 2004	Saturday	09 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, May 28: Sindh Minister for Tourism Shabbir Ahmed Qaimkhani has said that Pakistan, especially Sindh, lacked tourism facilities, and noted that law and order situation in the province was a major factor hindering the promotion of tourism.

The minister was speaking at a seminar on Making Domestic Tourism Attractive and Affordable, held at the Vicky Zeitlin Media Library under the auspices of the Pakistan Press Foundation here on Thursday evening.

Mr Qaimkhani said that the provincial tourism department would shortly introduce coach service from Karachi to Keenjhar lake and develop some other tourist resorts for local and foreign tourists.

He also talked about developing a hill station at Gorakh peak of Khirthar mountain range in Dadu district where an approach road is currently under construction. The provincial government has already released Rs100 million for the construction of the road, a rest house and a mosque.

Referring to the last year's boat tragedy at Keenjhar lake where 27 people had lost their lives, the minister said that the department had now got all the boats operating there registered and strictly forbidden driving of boats by under-aged individuals. A five-member committee has also been constituted with authority to issue fitness certificates for boats.

He stated that life-jackets and an ambulance had been made available at the lake site. Besides, a dispensary had been established and condition of huts improved. He said that a watch-tower would be also be constructed at the site.

Mr Riaz Hassan Khan, in-charge of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (Sindh-Balochistan) told the seminar that his Karachi office handled an average of 25,000 visitors in Northern Areas every year. He, however, felt that efforts were needed to attract upcountry people to visit Karachi and other parts of Sindh, particularly in winters.

He urged media to create public awareness and interest in domestic tourism.

Khwaja Jehanzeb of a travel agency described domestic tourism as the backbone of national economy, and expressed the view that without improving domestic tourism, foreign tourism could not be promoted.

In this context, he cited the example of beaches in Karachi which appeared victims of neglect and where no facility did exist for general public. He pointed out that the department owned a 2,000 square yard plot at Hawkesbay but it had remained unutilized since long. -PPI