LAHORE: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday spent a busy day in the city as he chaired briefing sessions on tourism, shelter homes, crackdown on adulteration, Clean and Green Pakistan campaign, reviewed development projects and held one-on-one meetings with Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar, CM Usman Buzdar and Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed and other provincial ministers.

Punjab Tourism Minister Raja Yasir Humayun Sarfraz briefed the premier about promotion of tourism in the province and stated that a [tourism] policy document was ready and would soon be presented before the cabinet for approval.

The minister said the tourism department had identified eight new sites – Kotli Sattian, Chakwal, Koh-i-Suleman, Attock, Kalabagh, Khushab, Bahawalpur and Jhelum – and introducing Chakwal 4x4 rally on the lines of desert safari.

Gets briefing on tourism, shelter homes; reviews uplift projects

The prime minister was also briefed about cultural, historical, religious and youth adventure tourism as well as online bookings and social media portal.

Mr Sarfraz said the government’s guest houses were being converted into residential facilities for tourists and added that the forest and irrigation departments’ 70 rest houses would also be opened for public. At another session, the prime minister directed taking measures for environment protection, ecotourism, as well as action against qabza mafia in forests and national parks.

The prime minister also reviewed the establishment of shelter homes and stated that it was state’s responsibility to look after the financially weak segments of society. He stressed that the philanthropists should help the downtrodden in society.

With regard to the Clean and Green Pakistan campaign, Mr Khan said the federal government had achieved 47 per cent targets of Spring Tree Plantation Campaign. The premier was told that Plant for Punjab campaign would be launched on March 21.

The PM was also briefed about Punjab Food Authority’s crackdown on adulteration as well as performance of solid waste management companies.

Meanwhile, speaking to media persons, Prime Minister’s special assistant Naeemul Haq said the premier had directed gearing up of economic development in Punjab. Governor Chaudhry Sarwar briefed the premier about Saaf Pani project as well as matters pertaining to universities across the province.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2019