TAXILA: Under the multi-million Punjab Tourism for Economic Growth project, launched in collaboration with the World Bank, the Mughal-era Attock Fort - built during the reign of Akbar between 1581 to 1583 - will be turned into a tourist destination for promotion of tourism.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Tourism and Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfikar Bukhari along with officials from the World Bank, the departments of archaeology and tourism and the local administration visited the fort to finalise the plan. Infrastructure will be improved in six different tourist spots of the province under the project.

The historical fort, located along the bank of Indus River, will be opened to the public for the first time. Earlier, the space was utilised for strategic purposes.

Mr Bukhari said tourist facilities like boarding and lodging would be provided at the site, adding that as it stood so close to major cities including Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar, the fort could serve as an ideal place for domestic travellers to stop by.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2021