KARACHI, Dec 18: Sindh Tourism Minister Rauf Siddiqui on Monday announced a one-year tax waiver for the tourism sector. He was presiding over a meeting on development of tourism in Thar. The meeting, held in the office of Sindh Assembly Speaker at the Sindh Assembly building on Monday, was briefed by Managing Director Sindh Tourism Development Corporation Rabiya Javeri Agha on the programme to popularise domestic tourism.

On the occasion, the minister announced exemption of tourism sector in Sindh from all taxes of provincial government for a period of one year. He said the government was trying to extend this facility for five years.

Mr Siddiqui said the Sindh government had taken many steps to promote domestic tourism including organising folk festivals, renovation of historic places and heritage buildings and ensuring better roads, communication and lodging facilities to attract tourists. These steps are part of the vision to make 2007, the year of tourism as declared by the government, he added.

He pointed out that tourism was now recognised as a powerful tool for economic, social and cultural uplift around the world. By improving available infrastructure and developing resorts, not only domestic but foreign tourists could be attracted.

At the meeting, it was agreed that a mass awareness programme be chalked out to generate public interest in tourism while the tourism department would work towards expediting infrastructure facilities in Thar. Speaker Sindh Assembly Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah was also present.