Multan: Italian Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo has announced his government’s decision to provide an additional fund of PKR 450 million for the Walled City project and the Pak-Italian Resource Centre’s establishment (in the clock tower) – a news source reported. This initiative is expected to create business opportunities for artists residing in the city.
The ambassador made this
announcement during his meeting with Multan Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muhammad
Aamer Khattak. He remarked that Pakistan had promising cultural and religious
tourism prospects.
Ambassador Pontecorvo said tourism in Italy contributed 15% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Pakistan should follow the practice. He said that the Walled City project (funded by the Italian government) would be resumed and that a master plan was being developed in this regard.
The ambassador (accompanied by his wife Miss Lydia) inaugurated Musafir Khana, Darbar Musa Pak Shaheed and toured Walled City project’s office. He also visited the local craft market and shrines of Shah Rukn-e-Alam and Bahauddin Zakariya Multani.
Previously, the Italian
government had allocated USD 10 million for the renovation of historical
buildings in the city, after ex-Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani had
sought his Italian counterpart’s assistance to help with the consultancy
services to preserve the historical status of Multan on the similar pattern
used for Rome’s renovation.
Hazafa reveres the art of writing and has been turned into a property enthusiast by profession. Her daily survival kit includes; tea, coffee, keyboard and paperbacks.
