November 27, 2005	Sunday	Shawwal 24, 1426

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 26: The National Assembly standing committee on tourism on Saturday criticized the ministry of tourism for not preparing a rebuilding plan for the earthquake-hit areas and failing to open new tourist spots. The rebuilding plan was to be discussed in Saturday’s meeting.

The tourism industry has suffered heavy loss and required about Rs1.787 billion to reconstruct hotels and motels in Azad Kashmir and NWFP that have been totally or partially destroyed in the October 8 earthquake, said a report presented by the ministry officials at the presentation.

The standing committee criticized the ministry for not making a presentation on its plans to establish new tourist points because this issue was on the agenda of the meeting.

The meeting was presided over by Meena Ehsan Laghari.

The standing committee was informed that 60 to 65 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Mansehra district had been affected after severe losses to the tourism industry of the area. The effects of the earthquake were disastrous for the tourism industry in Batagram and Kohistan as well.

It was informed that in Azad Jammu and Kashmir out of 46 hotels 41 were damaged while 24 persons working in these hotels lost their lives. The AJK required Rs365 million and Rs287 million for infrastructure and rehabilitation respectively.

In NWFP, out of 108, 69 hotels were damaged and 22 persons working in these hotels were killed by the earthquake. An amount of Rs637 million and Rs476 million would be required for infrastructure and rehabilitation respectively in NWFP.

The standing committee was told that four of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC)’s motels were damaged in the earthquake and one of its employer also lost his life. It would cost Rs22 million to rehabilitate these PTDC’s motels.

The standing committee recommended that the PTDC’s motels should be reconstructed on urgent basis and working paper on the rehabilitation of these motels should be presented to it as well.

The tourism ministry officials said the Prime Minister had approved a task force that would prepare recommendations for the rehabilitation of the country’s tourism sector, that is almost non-existent after the earthquake.

They said a number of activities were being planned to revive and boost tourism in the summer season next year.

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