Lahore: The Punjab government has decided to spend USD 50 million on the tourism sector over a period of five years as part of the Punjab Tourism Economic Growth (PTEG), a news source reported. With this measure, the provincial government aims to bring the tourism sector on par with international standards.
Punjab Minister for Tourism & Sports Rai Taimoor Bhatti reviewed the PTEG project during a recent meeting. He stressed that Punjab was rich in opportunities for religious and historical tourism. He added that the government was prioritising the promotion of this sector.
The meeting decided to hire expert consultants for the restoration and rehabilitation of the following sites in Punjab:
Darbar Sahib Narowal
Birthplace of Nankana Sahib
Rori Sahib Gujranwala
Punjab Sahib Hasanabdal
Dera Sahib Lahore
Sucha Soda Sheikhupura
Several other religious spots
The meeting’s participants also discussed the need for technical support, marketing business ideas, and creating job opportunities at the historical places of the province. The decision was made to soon launch a mobile application for facilitating the public. The application will also help create awareness about the facilities provided by the Punjab Tourism Department at various attractions.
Additionally, the meeting focused on the improvement of infrastructure and construction of roads at tourist sites.
According to the official tourism policy, the provincial government plans to
Develop the tourism sector to provide state-of-the-art services across Punjab
Focus on religious, historical, and other high-opportunity segments
Mobilise private investment for tourism sector
Punjab’s tourism policy underscores the importance of increasing access to heritage sites for both national and international tourists. It stresses that this measure will enhance economic gains and pay significant social dividends. Additionally, the policy focuses on making Punjab a tolerant, pluralistic, vibrant, and culturally confident society.
