December 28, 2006	Thursday	Zilhaj 06, 1427

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QUETTA, Dec 27: The government has made a comprehensive plan to promote tourism in Balochistan under “Visit Pakistan year 2007”. Addressing a press conference here, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Chairman Salman Javed said that the government was paying special attention to revival of tourism in the country by announcing various programmes and incentives.

“We have planned to promote tourism even at tehsil-level,” he said, adding that a committee would be formed comprising representatives of public and private sector for the purpose.

The PTDC chairman said that a four-day conference would be held in Quetta in March 2007 on the archaeological site of Mehar Garah.

He said that a ‘freedom jeep rally’ would be organised from Aug 12 to 14 starting from Ormara and finishing in Gwadar. Mr Javed said that the six-day ‘Gwadar Coast festival’ would begin on Oct 15 and the traditional ‘Sibi festival’ would be organised in a better way.

He said that the tourism ministry was also considering restarting the ‘Quetta Festival’ to provide recreational facilities to people. The festival in the provincial capital could not be held for the last five years.

He said that Balochistan Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani at a meeting had assured him of all out help and cooperation for the promotion of tourism in the province.

Answering a question, he said that more security posts would be set up in and around the Pir Ghaib picnic point in the Bolan district to provide protection to picnickers. He said that jobs and business opportunities would be created when the tourism sector would grow in the province.