RAWALPINDI, Sept 27: Eco-tourism is an important component of sustainable development and has the potential to conserve the environment for the well-being of the local people, the culture and environment minister, Col S.K. Tressler (retired), said on Friday.

He was speaking at a seminar on “Eco-tourism: The Key to Sustainable Development”, organized by Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC).

The event, held in connection with the World Tourism Day, was attended by more than 500 people, including some guests from foreign countries.

The minister said the economic status of a country also affected its environment, therefore, in Pakistan, deforestation and pollution were increasing day by day.

He said it was a shameful act that people threw garbage on the roads while driving cars, adding that learning was must for the establishment and development of an environment-friendly culture and behaviour in the society.

The resident coordinator and representative of the UNDP in Pakistan, Onder Yucer, said the objective of promoting eco- tourism in the country was to ensure that travel and tourism provided a source of income for many people. It also aimed at contributing to the conservation, protection and restoration of the eco-system, and, at the same time, allowing the local people to maintain their cultural heritage free of commercial influences.

He said implementation of eco-tourism concept would emphasize three main areas — the conservation of the biological and cultural diversity; promotion of sustainable use of bio-diversity by generating income, jobs and business opportunities in eco- tourism and related business networks; the facilitation of equitable sharing of benefits of eco-tourism by obtaining informed consent and full participation in planning and management of eco-tourism business.

Mr Yucer said the four mountains ranges of Hindukush, Pamir, Karakoram and the great Hamalaya, which had some of the highest peaks in the world, gave Pakistan a prominent place in the field of mountaineering.

He said the country’s culture was enriched with influences of several ancient civilizations, and the historic and archeological sites of Gandhara, Indus Valley civilization, Moenjodaro and Mughul Empire could attract a large number of tourists.

Earlier, the students of different city schools spoke on the topic by highlighting the age-old problems of the communities living in the beautiful tourist spots of Northern Areas and Swat.

The minister also inaugurated a photo exhibition on Mountain Heritage by three Pakistani photographers — Ghazi Ghulam Raza, Javid A Khan and Saifud Din F. Ismaili.