President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have emphasized to harness enormous tourism potential of Pakistan for socio-economic development of the country.

In their separate messages on the World Tourism Day, they said Pakistan has a rich historical heritage and has been home to the Indus and Gandhara civilizations, making it an attractive destination for spiritual exploration and cultural discovery.

The President said Pakistan is blessed with spectacular landscapes, majestic mountains and peaks, vast deserts, and beautiful coastlines.

He urged the media to play its role in highlighting the true tourism potential of Pakistan. In his message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government is promoting entrepreneurial initiatives in the tourism industry.

He said the government undertook major reforms by adopting a tourist-friendly visa regime under which tourists from 126 countries can obtain fast-track visas without fee.

The Prime Minister expressed the confidence that this decision will play a key role in the promotion of the tourism sector and open new avenues for socioeconomic development in Pakistan.