LAHORE: Provincial Minister for Education Rana Mashhood on Wednesday said that varied initiatives of Tourism and Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP), which aim to enhance tourism, have helped to a project positive image of the country.
Addressing a ceremony held in connection with International Tourism Day at Alhamra, he appreciated TDCP for working in accordance with the vision of Punjab government to promote tourism.
He said Punjab government was taking a number of steps to provide maximum opportunities to youth so that they could excel in different walks of life.
The minister said that partnership was of high importance as it helped to meet big goals, adding that the TDCP managing director has encouraged private sector which helped him in shaping good initiatives for tourism.
Rana Mashhood said the people sacrificed a lot in the war against terrorism but with the grace of Almighty Allah the nation displayed ample resilience for success in various fields.
The minister stressed to promote optimism and urged the youth to set goals and work hard to materialise them.
“Tourists must be treated with a great hospitality so that when they go back to their country they cherish the time they had spent in Pakistan”, he added.
Lord Mayor Colonel (retd) Mubashir Javaid Malik said, “Our country is blessed with a lot of tourism potential and its advocacy was vital to strengthen this sector”.
College of Tourism and Hotel Management (COTHM) Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Shafiq said: “Tourism is just like a face of a country”. He said that in each and every district of the country there was good potential for tourism.
He said that food plays a significant role in promotion of tourism and there was a need to introduce new trends in our traditional foods.
Punjab Revenue Authority Chairman Dr Raheel Ahmad, while speaking on the occasion, recommended book selling on streets near Anarkali and Pak Tea House for domestic tourism.
He suggested that TDCP double decker buses should be allowed to stop at Pak Tea House and book stalls for at least 15 minutes.
Advisor to CM on Tourism Haider Ali Khan, Secretary Nayyer Iqbal, TDCP MD Ahmer Mallick, Sohail Warraich and Walled City of Lahore Authority DG Kamran Lashari also spoke on the occasion.
It is pertinent to mention here that the International Tourism Day was being celebrated under the theme “Sustainable Tourism: A tool of Development” on September 27.