December 09, 2006	Saturday	Ziqa'ad 17, 1427

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

ISLAMABAD, Nov 8: The Senate Standing Committee on Sports on Friday directed the Ministry of Tourism to chalk out a comprehensive plan aimed at attracting tourist to rescue the country’s sinking tourism industry.

It directed the ministry to initiate a dialogue process with the high commissions and embassies in Islamabad to project the soft image of Pakistan abroad.

The focus should be on the US embassy and British High Commission, because both the countries not only played a major role in forming opinions of their own people but also in the rest of Europe, America and Far East.

“You cannot improve your soft image abroad until and unless you remove the name of Pakistan from the websites of the US state department and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where it has been categorised as an unsafe state,” Senator Enver Baig told Secretary Tourism, Salim Gul Shaikh.

The committee directed the secretary to immediately start holding meetings with Islamabad-based foreign diplomats. Take these officials to Northern Areas, NWFP and other tourist sites and show them that the country was as safe as any other tourist destination. Then, use the influence of these people to project the soft image of Pakistan abroad.

The committee observed that the objective of projecting Pakistan as a soft, moderate and peaceful country abroad could be achieved only through tourism.

“How can we project our safe image abroad when we ourselves are not safe at the places of our worship, our homes and on roads,” said Senator Adur Rahim Khan Mandokhel.

He said that it was a matter of great concern that in Pakistan domestic tourism industry was almost non-existent despite the fact that the country possessed a precious heritage in the form of Gandhara civilization and a very rich history full of social, political and economic events.

“We have kept even our own people in the dark about our history. We are unable to project our own history and tell the people that what were we a few thousands years ago,” Mr Mandokhel said.

Senator Enver Baig criticised the government’s visa policy and termed it as another major hurdle in the way of attracting visitors to Pakistan.

He said that it was not a matter of pride for Pakistan that it refused to issue visas to 12 Indian scholars, academicians and researchers invited by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) to present papers at an international conference being held in Islamabad next week.

Besides, he stressed the need for upgrading the hotels and motels of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) so that foreign tourists could enjoy their stay in Pakistan.

He said that normally in a majority of the rooms of PTDC hotels and motels, vines and other drinks were frequently been used. He said the government should allow bars instead which should be reserved only for the foreigners so that they could enjoy their evenings in a good environment.

He said that unfortunately, the Tourism Ministry lacked vision despite the country’s huge potentials for attracting domestic and foreign tourists.

The committee also expressed its concerns over the inability of the Tourism Ministry to develop various tourist spots in Balochistan including Ziarat. Famous location like Takhat Bai, Shahbaaz Ghari, Swaat, etc., needed to be made more attractive for Buddhist community of Far East.

Secretary Tourism also briefed the committee about the 2007 programmes of the ministry that included the Pakistan Tourism Fair, Lahore, from January 15 to 21, Sibi Mela on Feb 4-5, National Skiing Championship, Malam Jabba Feb 10-15, Third Cholistan Jeep Rally with a Cultural Programme March 8-10 and a number of other attractions.

He said that efforts were underway to revive the tourism industry, which had suffered a great set back after the 9/11 and the last year’s earthquake.