RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Three-day Gilgit-Baltistan Festival started on Friday at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry to highlight flora and fauna of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Provincial Minister for Tourism, Sports, Archaeology and Museums, Gilgit-Baltistan, Fida Khan Fida and the LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid jointly inaugurated the festival where stalls of herbal products, gemstones, woodcraft, agricultural products, tourism monuments, climbing wall and food court from the mountains were a great attraction for the visitors.

Addressing the participants on the occasion, Provincial Minister for Tourism, Sports, Archaeology and Museums, GB, Fida Khan Fida said that the government of Gilgit-Baltistan is giving special focus on up gradation of tourism sites and promotion of tourism-related activities.

All segments of the economy are being given equal importance therefore a comprehensive strategy has been adopted to promote tourism in the country, he said.

Since the law and order situation has improved therefore the flow of international tourists is also getting a considerable momentum, he added.

Pakistan is one of the few countries in the world that have great tourist destinations. He appreciated the LCCI for organizing the three-day festival to highlight the potential of Gilgit-Baltistan.

LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid said that lack of proper infrastructure is hitting hard some of the finest tourists sites therefore the government should divert its attention towards these areas. He said that in today’s world when all types of technology is available, there must not be any problems for international tourists in getting easy access to all the areas.

“GB has huge potential but it could not be tapped so far only because of unavailability of good road network, he added.

He said that tourism is a billion dollar industry and has played a very vital role in the economic well being of a number of countries that have no other industry.

“Pakistan could earn billions of dollars by highlighting its tourism potential in the outer world. The Lahore Chamber would continue to work for the promotion of this segment of the economy,” he added.

The LCCI president said that ambassadors working abroad should be tasked to contact tourism related organizations for highlighting the tourists sites in Pakistan and also said that the three-day Gilgit-Baltistan Festival would help promote sustainable tourism, culture and heritage of GB.