GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan caretaker Chief Minister Mir Afzal has announced that the region will be reopened to tourists soon, and directed to formulate the SOPs for the purpose.

According to a press release issued by the CM House the other day, Mr Afzal said that Prime Minister Imran Khan was taking keen interest in promoting tourism in GB.

“Tourism is important sector for development of the region, but it has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic,’’ he said. The caretaker chief minister said tourists would be allowed to visit GB provided they observed the SOPs.

He said the GB tourism department should develop a mechanism to implement SOPs at the entry points and airports of the region.

“SOPs for tourists would be advertised,’’ he said.

Mir Afzal said with opening the region to tourists, economic activities would gain impetus to the benefit of the locals.

The caretaker chief minister directed GB secretary tourism to establish a museum in Gilgit to preserve traditional heritage. He said he would talk to the prime minister to start flights from other provinces to GB to facilitate tourists.

During a recent visit to the region, PM Imran had directed the caretaker chief minister to reopen GB to tourists after formulating SOPs.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2020