ISLAMABAD, Jan 14: The government on Monday announced 50 per cent concession in all expenses to foreign mountaineers visiting the country in 2002.

The announcement was made by tourism minister S.K. Tressler at the opening ceremony of the International Year of Mountains, 2002, at a local hotel. The event was organized by Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC).

The minister stressed the need for boosting the country’s tourism-friendly image through projection of its culture, diversity and magnificent tourist resorts.

Only a few countries are blessed with magnificent mountains, and Pakistan is one of them. K-2 and Nanga Parbat are the peaks every mountaineer of the word wishes to climb, Mr Tressler said.

He appreciated Nazir Sabir, Pakistan’s first mountaineer, for earning respect and honour for the country by climbing Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. He underlined the need for private-public sector partnership to protect cultural heritage of the mountain community, an agenda item of the International Year of the Mountains 2002, declared by the United Nations.

The minister also called for ending conflicts in various parts of the world, which were keeping tourists from visiting some wonderful sites. For instance, he added, people wanted to visit Siachen Glacier, one of the biggest in the world.

In his keynote speech, UNDP resident representative Onder Yucer expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made by the PTDC for the international year of mountains.

He said the main focus of the programmes arranged by the PTDC should be the sustainable development of the local mountain community, eco-system’s preservation, and water resources’ management.

Federal tourism secretary Yousaf Kamal, in his speech, said the government was celebrating the mountains year in the light of UN declaration. He added that the mountains year was not only related to adventure tourism, but it also aimed at increasing awareness regarding sustainable livelihood for mountain communities.

Earlier, the PTDC managing director, Masood Ali Khan, welcomed all the delegates and elaborated the calender of events for 2002, featuring 50 programmes.

He said the main emphasis would be on eco-tourism, as highlighted by the World Tourism Organization.

The ceremony included an exhibition of books and photographs on tourism, which would continue till January 16. Another feature of the programme was a unique performance on “symphony of planet earth” by top models. Various elements of the earth, like air and water, were symbolized by Nighat Chaudhry through classical dance.