ISLAMABAD: The World Bank would be supporting Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) in developing the tourist facilities and resorts in the country by sponsoring different projects. This was decided in a meeting held here between PTDC and the World Bank delegation on Monday.
Managing Director PTDC Abdul Ghafoor said that the bank was also supporting China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), besides several other development projects were ongoing, through which, over 3 billion people will reap the the benefits.
PTDC will develop tourist facilities and resorts along the CPEC through joint ventures as well as securing private investments.
After restoration of peace in the country, a remarkable increase in foreign tourist flow has been witnessed as compared to previous years. The projects included Bus Terminal at Nankana Sahib, Motel at Hawks Bay, Karachi, Moenjodaro Motel at Baran Kalay and Tourist Facilitation Centres at Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Muzaffarabad, Gilgit, Peshawar and Quetta.
He informed the delegation that a number of lands owned by PTDC were open for investment specifically meant for tourism projects located at for construction of Ski Resort, Islamabad for construction of Aiwan-e-Sayyahat/PTDC Head Office, Rawalpindi for construction of multi storey building, 172 Acres at Gaddani Beach, Balochistan for tourist resort, Sukkur for development of tourist village Banjosa Lake, AJK, Muzaffarabad, AJK, Thaleechi GB, Buffer KP, Garam Chasma at Chitral, 25 Acres land at Islamabad and Construction of a wildlife park/sanctuary with a motel near Kalar Kahar on Motorway is under consideration.
Head of delegation and Private Sector Specialist and Tourism Expert Wouter Schalken said that Pakistan’s tourist destinations are worth more than any other part of the world. “All we lack is appropriate publicity and promotion in right direction”. “We recommend PTDC to project tourism destinations of all the country over national and international media aggressively to bring more foreign tourists in Pakistan”, Wouter remarked. Other members of World Bank delegation included Maha Ahmed Rural Development Specialist, Kiran Afzal, Sr. Private Sector Specialist and Sarmad, Consultant Private Sector were also present in the meeting.
