March 2, 2006	Thursday	Safar 1, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

ISLAMABAD, March 1: The government on Wednesday announced to liberalize its visa policy for those intending to visit the country for pilgrimage to the holy sites of different religions.

Federal Minister of Tourism Dr G.G. Jamal, speaking at meeting held on Wednesday to review facilities at the religious sites and to device a strategy to promote religious tourism, said: “The government would try to facilitate movement of religious tourists and would liberalize visa regime for the pilgrims.”

The government plans to exploit country’s potential of religious tourism and is chalking out a strategy to conserve the religious sites and provide facilities to the tourists coming here for religious purposes.

“Pakistan is the hub of religious tourism, but unfortunately this potential was never exploited in the past,” the minister regretted.

He promised to improve the facilities at the sacred places of Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists.

“For attracting religious tourists, it is necessary to provide better facilities at all the sacred sites including improved residence,” he observed.

Mr Jamal said the government was committed to maintaining and conserving religious sites.

Proper promotion of religious tourism would also help in improving the soft image of the country abroad, besides generating revenue, the minister said.