President Dr. Arif Alvi says Pakistan is witnessing boom in tourism sector which will not only project positive image of the country but also help generate revenue.

Addressing a conference on the eve of International Mountain Day in Islamabad on Friday, he said government is taking several measures to promote tourism in the country.

He said Pakistan needs human resource development in this regard and universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan already have started short courses in hotel management and tourism.

The President called for involving locals in building infrastructure in tourist destinations to facilitate tourists.

Speaking on the occasion, Managing Director Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation Aftab-ur-Rehman Rana said a national tourism plan has been devised as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to promote tourism in the country.

He said Prime Minister himself is monitoring the progress on development and facilitation process in tourism sector.

The MD said restructuring of PTDC has been carried out in order to make the organization more efficient.

He said different tourism areas have been divided into zones in KP, GB and Punjab provinces. He said PTDC has also established a help line 1422 for inquiries and information regarding tourism. He said steps are also being taken to promote religious tourism in the country.

On the occasion, the President distributed certificates of appreciation among the top mountaineers of the country. Sirbaz Khan, Hassan Jan, Ali Raza Sadpara, Qudrat Ali, Sadiq Sadpara, Ali Moosa Sadpara and Naila Kiani were among the certificate recipients.

Special prayer was offered for the mountaineering legend Ali Sadpara who lost his life while summiting K-2 in winter.

Source: Radio Pakistan