ISLAMABAD, Jan 6: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday directed the Tourism Ministry to attract one million foreign visitors during the year 2007, which is the “Visit Pakistan Year”.

Chairing a meeting to review the goals and targets of the Tourism Ministry, the premier asked the ministry and Tourism Development Corporation of Pakistan (TDCP) to make efforts to promote tourism by focusing on cultural heritage, archaeological sites, vast potential of religious tourism and natural beauty of the Northern Areas.

An official announcement issued after the meeting said Pakistan has a rich heritage comprising the Indus and Gandhara civilisations and the Mughal era, which should be carefully exploited to attract general as well as religious tourists.

Pakistan, the prime minister said, could become a destination of choice for tourists as it also offered plains, deserts, glaciers and peaks all rolled into one country.

Mr Aziz said that the government was determined to leverage country’s vast potential of tourism and had made access to Pakistan easier by introducing a liberal visa policy.

He said that there was a need to tap tourism potential as it could generate economic activity, create jobs and earn foreign exchange. Tourism also helped improve the image of the country, as tourists were able to get first hand information about the country, he added.

Federal Minister for Tourism Nilofar Bakhtiar in her presentation said that her ministry had prepared a detailed calendar of events to celebrate 2007 as the “Visit Pakistan Year”.

She said events would be held throughout Pakistan during the year to attract foreign tourists.

The ministry was planning to set up emergency and rescue centre at Skardu and mountain museum at a suitable place, she said, adding that the ministry in coordination with Erra was working for the revival of tourism in the earthquake-affected areas.

The minister also apprised the prime minister of plans to celebrate Gandhara week.