LAHORE, Jan 18: The three-day Pakistan Tourism Fair has begun at the Expo Centre, Fortress Stadium, showcasing some 180 stalls offering public information about local and foreign tour operators, airlines, hotels and embassies.

Punjab Tourism Minister Aslam Iqbal inaugurated the fair on Thursday evening, as Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi could not turn up to open the second major tourism promotion event of the “Visit Pakistan Year 2007”.

Mr Iqbal told reporters that he was representing the Punjab government at the fair as the chief minister had to attend an important meeting in Islamabad. He said the government was implementing Pervaiz Elahi’s vision in promoting tourism in Punjab.

He said the Punjab government had been making efforts to promote tourism, and the fair being organised by the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) for the last three years.

He said the fair had been transformed into a mega event this year. A large number of foreign tour operators, hoteliers, airlines’ officials and ambassadors from 28 countries were participating in the fair. Besides this fair, he said, the TDCP was also organising Cholistan Jeep Rally this year, where participants from abroad were also being invited.

Mr Iqbal said the federal government was enhancing fund allocation for the tourism sector up to Rs700 million.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Mr Iqbal said the government was taking all necessary measures to provide physical infrastructure and proper environment to the tourists from abroad. He said the TDCP had initiated a number of tourism events, including Lahore Marathon, PTF and the jeep rally to project Pakistan’s soft image as a tourist friendly country. These events conveyed a loud and clear message to the world community that the people of Pakistan together made a modern and progressive society.

He hoped Pakistani’s tradition of hospitality, blended with different colourful events, would surely make the country an attractive tourist destination. He said the government was also investing heavily in its tourist sites depicting country’s rich cultural and historical heritage. He said the government was also taking steps to promote religious tourism.

The minister said the private sector could play a significant role in augmenting the tourist activities in the country. He said no government initiative could produce desired results without the active involvement and support of the private sector. He said the presence of a number of tour operators at the fair showed that the TDCP had realised their importance. He stressed the need for discovering more areas of Pakistan which could be shown to the world.

Earlier, the minister visited all stalls set up at the fair. He was accompanied by TDCP managing director Arshad Bhatti, Punjab tourism and resort development department secretary Shahnawaz Badr and other officials concerned.