26 June 2004	Saturday	07 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

GILGIT, June 25; Over 700 foreign tourists are expected to participate in a ceremony to be held in July to commemorate the first ascent of K-2, world's second highest peak.

It was learnt that tourists have started arriving in Gilgit and Skardu districts.

Tour operators said that the flow of foreign visitors had proven to be been a boon for the local tourism sector as thousands of porters would be hired from Baltistan and Gilgit to assist these foreign tourists.

They said that the Shandur Gala, which would commence from July 7, was another reason for the tourist boom.

The tour operators were, however, critical of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation and said that the corporation had made no arrangements regarding the promotion of tourism in the region.

They said that tourists were being charged high accommodation prices at PTDC motels and that was why almost all the PTDC motels right from Bashama in the NWFP to Phander in Ghizer district were without any guests.

He said a higher number of tourist groups were expected this year but it was highly subject to the law and order situation in Gilgit.