ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: The tourism ministry has turned down an offer of $4,000 made by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the events planned to celebrate International Year of Mountains, 2002, Dawn has learnt.

The assistance was offered at a meeting held recently between the UNDP officials and the ministry, for carrying out the proposed events.

When contacted, officials concerned at Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), who have planned and are supervising calendar of events to celebrate IYM 2002, confirmed the report.

According to sources the tourism minister, Owias Ahmed Ghani, was furious over the paltry offer and refused to accept it.

“An amount of $4,000 for more than 50 events, being organized as part of the IYM 2002 celebrations under the United Nation declaration, was an insult to Pakistan”, an official said.

The UNDP resident representative, Onder Yucer, speaking at the IYM lunching ceremony on January 14, had promised to help the PTDC in arranging the events but apparently failed to keep his pledge.

The PTDC had repeatedly requested the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), which is dealing with IYM 2002 arrangements across the world, for monetary help but did not receive any positive response.

The ministry had already worked out plans to celebrate the IYM 2002 with its limited resources.

The Year 2002 was declared as the International Year of Mountains by the United Nations with an emphasis on conservation of the mountain heritage and for the sustainable development of mountain community.

The UNDP official said, although it was coordinating with the tourism ministry in the IYM 2002 celebrations but refused to comment on any such offer of assistance to the ministry.