SKARDU, July 15: Parliamentary secretary for Northern Areas and Kashmir Affairs Sardar Shahjehan Yousaf has expressed dissatisfaction over the arrangements made by the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation for the golden jubilee celebrations of the first ascent of Mount K-2 and the 51st anniversary of the conquest of Nanga Parbat.

Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday the parliamentary secretary said that he would inform the prime minister about the lapses by the PTDC in celebrating the international event in a befitting manner.

Tour operators and journalists draw the attention of the secretary towards the alleged mismanagement by the PTDC and said that except for a few diplomats and foreign dignitaries, most of the delegates and participants were local bureaucrats with no link to the tourism industry.

They also questioned whether tourism can be developed by holding an exhibition. In particular, the foreign tour operators and journalists also criticized the PTDC for not projecting the Northern Areas properly and adequately to the rest of the world. Mr Yousuf said that he would submit a report in this regard to the prime minister and recommend action against the officials concerned.

APP adds: He said that Kaghan-Naran-Jalkhad and Chilas road is being constructed, and a Tourism Board is being established, and a proposal has been submitted to the government.

Speaking on the occasion Deputy Chief Executive Northern Areas Fida Mohammad Nashad said Pakistan is home to three great mountain ranges - the Karakorum, Himalaya and the Hindukush - with five of the nine highest peaks above 8,000 meters.

He said the region is home to not only five of the world's longest glaciers but also snow leopards, ibex, brown bear and many other rare animals. The celebrations commenced when a delegation of foreign guests including ambassadors of Bosnia, Iran, Myanmar, acting high commissioner of Malaysia, ambassador of Thailand, officials of Italian and German embassies, parliamentarians, mountaineers arrived here on Monday.