Archive for December, 2006
Pakistan, a real destination for tourism: President Musharraf
Sunday, December 17th, 2006
Saturday, 16 December 2006
ISLAMABAD, Dec 15 (APP):President General Pervez Musharraf Friday said Pakistan is a real destination for tourism and the government is making all out efforts to improve infrastructure and facilities for the tourists. Launching the year-long celebrations in connection with “Destination Pakistan 2007â€,here at Convention Centre, the President said there is great “untouched and uncovered†potential for promoting tourism, which should be explored to attract maximum tourists from across the world.Â
President Musharraf said ensuring law and order is the responsibility of the government adding that the government had been taking adequate measures in this regard, therefore, the countries having “travel advisory†for their citizens to Pakistan should be removed.
The President highlighted the scope for tourism relating to religion said there are many important holy places of Bhudism, Hinduism and Sikhism which should be projected in an appropriate way to attract the tourists relating to these religion.
President Musharraf said soft image of the country would also be projected through the promotion of tourism.
He said, “Pakistan is much different what it has been projected and perceived outside†therefore, with the promotion of tourism, this perception would also be improved.
The President said Pakistan has all types of weathers and land while the temperature range here is from 50 degree centigrade to minus 50 degree centigrade, and it could have attraction for all kind of tourists from various countries.
President Musharraf said tourism is multi-billion industry and its improvement in the country could enhance economic activities and alleviate poverty.
Referring to the share of Pakistan in the tourism, he said out of 8 per cent of the world’s tourism business of South Asia, Pakistan has just 4 per cent of this business.
He said the development of tourism would also improve job opportunities and the economic benefits of tourism would reach the poor.
The President said Pakistan has all types of terrains, and it is a great honour that the country has the second highest mountain of the world, K-2.
He said Pakistan has five highest peaks out of 14 in the world and there are tremendous chances for hiking, mountaineering and many other sports.
Referring to Cholistan desert, the President said it could be a natural attraction for many tourists while coastline of Pakistan from Karachi to Gwadar was another beautiful area to be explored for tourism.
He said the plains of the Punjab have many beautiful sites as it has one of the biggest ever canal network in the world, which is worth-seeing.
Musharraf said Pakistan has also many oldest civilizations like Ham Gargh, Gandhara, Moenjo Daro and Harappa, which have attraction for many world tourists.
Referring to natural beauty in Northern Areas of Pakistan, the President said Karakoram Highway, which is considered 8th wonder of the world, has great attraction for the tourists.
He said Pakistan has the highest polo ground in the world at Shandur where Polo matches are played every year. He said the country has snow covered mountains and lakes, besides many valleys.
The President said infrastructure in the Northern Areas is being improved and many valleys like Chitral, Hunza, Skardu and Kaghan have been linked through roads to facilitate the tourists.
President Musharraf, however said still the country needs good and better airports, quality roads, hotel accommodations and other facilities to further promote the tourism.
Appreciating the efforts of Ministry of Tourism for promoting tourism, the President emphasised the need to encourage “domestic tourists†to explore the beautiful places in the country.
The President urged the people to see the country and know it, as it has great potential for tourism.
He also asked the Ministry of Tourism to start Car Rally, particularly in the Northern Areas as these areas are among the highest places in the world and the rally would be “on top of the worldâ€.
The President said there should be more comprehensive publicity to promote the tourism, both at domestic and international level.
He said the government has also relaxed the visa restriction and it is now the most liberal visa regime and the number of countries have been increased to 24 for granting visa on arrival.
The President said due to various religious attractions and natural spots, there could be millions of tourists from India to Pakistan.
Appreciating the efforts of Minister for Tourism Nilofar Bakhtiar, the President said, though it is a humble start to promote tourism, it is very good beginning.
He assured his full support and cooperation to the Ministry of Tourism for further promoting tourism.
He said the calendar of the events for “Destination Pakistan 2007†is also very attractive.
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Earlier, the Minister for Tourism Nilofar Bakhtiar in her welcome address, highlighted various features of the “Destination Pakistan 2007â€.
She said it is a humble start by the Ministry of Tourism adding it would promote soft image and project the country in a better perspective.
She also thanked the delegates from 40 countries, and representatives of tour operators for their participation in the inaugural ceremony of the year-long celebrations.
Nilofar Bakhtiar said Pakistan has attraction for tourists from across the world including the religious tourists.
Begum Sehba Musharraf, the first lady, also attended the function.   Â
Ministry of Tourism arranged a cultural show on this occasion to highlight the traditional culture of various areas, tourist attractions and music to promote tourism.
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Govt promoting safe, affordable rail travel Prime Minister
Sunday, December 17th, 2006
RAWALPINDI: The government is trying to promote rail travel, as it is an affordable, safe and comfortable mode of transportation, said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday.
Inaugurating a non-stop train, ‘Pakistan Express’, between Rawalpindi and Karachi at the Rawalpindi Railway Station, he said the rail links of the country were a source of promoting solidarity among people living in different areas of the country, as it connected them all.
He said that these measures were part of the Pakistan Railways’ (PR) efforts to make the department more efficient and rail travel more comfortable. He said that the department was also making arrangements for starting a bullet train.
He said that railways were the backbone of the national economy, adding that it had played an important role in the progress and prosperity of the country.
He said that all the projects prepared by the Ministry of Railways would be approved to further improve the railway services, adding that the salaries of PR employees would also be increased.
He said that the Pakistan Muslim League and its allied parties were carrying out record development work in the country, adding that the number of development schemes completed in the past few years by the government were unprecedented in the country’s history. He said that the economic condition of the country had improved greatly in the past half decade, adding that tremendous development had taken place in all sectors of the economy. He said that continuation of the policies was necessary for maintaining economic momentum.
Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that the new train service would benefit people with low incomes, as a one-way fare was only Rs 600. He said that a new “luxury†train service would be inaugurated on December 25. He said that two million people travelled on the PR trains in the last six months, adding that the figure would reach five million in a year.
He said that PR had also started a shuttle train service between Peshawar and Rawalpindi and its fare was Rs 70. He said that past governments had neglected the development of the PR and instead of building a new rail track, it had allowed 1,000 kilometres of track to fall into disrepair.
He said that PR engines and coaches were being repaired and built at the local carriage factories without any foreign assistance. He said that the salaries and other allowances of the employees of department would be increased.
He said that the railroad from Sohawa to Dena was the cause of the unnecessary delay in the Lahore-Rawalpindi trains, adding that if the route could be modified, trains would travel between the two cities in just two and a half hours.
He said that tenders for running a bullet train had been received from two Spanish and Austrian companies. He said that there were 4,000 unmanned railway crossing from Lahore to Karachi. He said 300 of them would be immediately closed to avoid accidents, while the department would hire more staff for working on the rest.
He said that computer ticketing systems had been introduced at all stations and PR had a service to deliver tickets at home on nominal charges.
He said that land belonging to the PR was being auctioned off to generate revenue for the department and to construct hotels to promote tourism in the country. app
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Year 2007 to be celebrated as Visit Pakistan Year
Wednesday, December 13th, 2006
Ms Bakhtiar said the tourism ministry had finalised and printed a “Calendar of Events 2007†that carried dates of the events being held to promote tourism.
She said the celebrations and the events would begin with Lahore Marathon on Jan 14, followed by one-week Pakistan Tourism Fair in Lahore beginning from Jan 15, besides a twoday competition of brass band by Pakistan armed forces on Jan 17 and 18.
She said the events would help create a soft image of Pakistan commensurate with its tourism attractions and compatible with the socio-cultural heritage of the country.
During the next year, Ms Bakhtiar said, the tourism ministry would market its tourism products, including history and heritage sites, mountains, northern areas, religious tourism as well as Pakistani people and their hospitality. “We need to end suppression and create an environment of openness in the society,†she added.
She said the tourism ministry, in collaboration with all four provincial governments, would ensure that all foreign tourists’ stay in Pakistan would be very pleasant. “Law and order should not be an issue in `Visit Pakistan Year,†she stressed.
Answering a question, she admitted that many countries had issued negative travel advisories for their citizens warning them against traveling to Pakistan, and urged the media to promote a soft image of the country instead of highlighting crime incidents. Crime was a global issue, and not specific to Pakistan, she added.
Ms Bakhtiar said the tourism ministry was cultivating brand ambassadors, besides contacting different countries’ ambassadors, tour operators and other officials concerned for the promotion of a better image of Pakistan. The tourism ministry was also sending a lot of promotional material to all Pakistani embassies as well as tour operators in different countries.
Punjab Tourism Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal, Punjab Social Services Board chairperson Saba Sadiq and TDCP managing director Arshad Bhatti were also present on the occasion.
The major tourism events being arranged during 2007 also include Sibi Mela (Feb 45), National skiing Championship, Malam Jaba (Feb 10-15), Thar Desert Festival, Marathon, cultural programme at Umarkot Fort, Sindh (Feb 16-18), Jashan-eBaharan Spring Festival (Feb 18-23), Third Cholistan Jeep Rally with a cultural Programme (March 8-10), Channan Pir Festival (Indus Guides) (March 8-9), Mehrgarh Conference, Quetta (March 15th), Spring Blossom Festival Northern Area (March 15-20).
Similarly, from March 23 to 25 Tour of Islamabad, March 26 to 31 Gandhara Week, Historical Review of the Buddhist Civilization, Sound and Light Show, Taxila; April 11 to 14 Baisakhi (Hasan Abadal); April 12 to 24 Adventure/Extreme Sports, Deosai Plain, Northern Areas; April 12 to 13 Baisakhi Mela (Festival at Sakhi Sarwar); April 24 to 26 Train Safari, Khewra Salt Mines with a Cultural Programme, 49th meeting of UN WTO CSA; May 11 to 15 Chitral and Kalash Festival; May 16 to 21 White Water Rafting, Azad Kashmir; May 25 to 27 SAARC Tourism Mart Karachi.
On June 9, Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the First Ascent of Broad Peak (8047m) will be held; from June 15 to July 15 Pakistan Women Kushek Training/Expedition will be held in Hunza; June 22 to 29 Shogran Festival, June 15 to Aug 30 Pakistan Broad Peak Golden Jubilee Expedition; June 25 to 27 Hunza Festival and The Tourism Convention; July 7 to 9 Shandur Polo Festival (ChitralGilgit), with a festival at Kalash.
Other events include : July 10 to 15 Karakorum Car Rally; July 15 to 17 Broghil Festival; July 23 to 28 Mountain Marathon (AJK Kaghan); August 12 to 14 Freedom jeep Rally, Gaddani Beach; August 14, 60th Independence Day; September 13 International Mountain Marathon, Hunza; Sept 1-6 Silk Route Festival (Northern Areas); Sept 3-6 Sufi Festival at Sehwan Sharif; Sept 7-9 International Mountain Bike Race, Kaghan; Sept 10-11 International Mountain Tourism Conference Islamabad; Sept 10-12 Karakorum International Film Festival KIFF, Islamabad; Sept 2024 Painted Truck Caravan Karachi to Khyber; Sept 27 World Tourism Day Celebrations, Peshawar (Ramazan Celebrations in NWFP); Oct 9-14 Hot Air Ballooning Competition, Islambad; Oct 15-20 Jashn-e-Sahil, Gawadar; OCt 21-28 Journey Through Time-Sound and Light Show and a cultural event at Moenjodaro; Nov 1 Jashn-eAzaadi, Gilgit Celebrations; Nov 113 A walk through historic times; Nov 2-11 Birthday Celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev Jee at Lahore, Hasan Abdal and Nankana Shaib; Nov 10-19 International paragliding Competition, Islamabad, Swat and Azad Kashmir; Nov 21-27, International Festival of Performing Arts, Lahore;.Nov 24 World Buddhist Congress and a Festival of Asian Arts and Crafts, Islamabad; Dec 1-20 Pakistan Cultural Train Safari, Peshawar to Karachi; Dec 24 Christmas Celebrations, Lahore; Dec 30 Tourism Convention and the Closing Ceremony, Islamabad and a Cultural Show.
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