STC celebrates 'World Tourism Day'

Sarhad Tourism Corporation (STC) celebrated the World Tourism Day with a resolve that they would make more efforts for better utilisation of the tourism potentials of and would take steps for attracting both foreign and domestic tourists.
In this connection a function was held on the green lawns of the Peshawar Museum with renowned archaeologist and former chairman of the Department of Archaeology, University of Peshawar and Director Peshawar Museum, Professor Fidaullah Sehrai was the chief guest on the occasion.
This year the theme of the day was "Sports & Tourism living forces for mutual understanding culture and development of our society,"
In his opening remarks Managing Director, STC, Khushdil Khan said that a number of projects were in progress for promotion of tourism sector, saying that the corporation had recently opened a restaurant at Tanda Dam Kohat. Similarly, he said that construction of hotel was also in progress. He said that 20 rooms had already been completed while work on 60 more was continued in full swing.
He said that according to a recent survey the hill resorts of Nathiagali and Naraan had fallen short to accommodate the large number of tourists and then they were identifying new sites to provide a place to the visitors from Sindh and Punjab during summer.
The MD, STC also informed the function that the corporation has recommended 75 tourism-related schemes to the federal government for approval. Similarly, he said that Rs100 million had been sanctioned for the establishment of an Open Air Theater in Kund National Park, District Nowshera. He said that they had also recommended the establishment of 16 tourist facilitation centres in the province while a base camp would also be established for the promotion of Shandur Festival.
Speaking on the occasion, Director Museums, Dr Ihsan Ali said that Ghandhara civilisation had a great attraction for the foreign tourists and in this connection particularly pointed to old relics in Bhootkhada (Swat), Takht Bai and Terally in district Mardan. Similarly, he said that the historic buildings, gardens and two remaining city gates and mosques were also potential attractions for both local and foreign tourists.
He said that at present the NWFP Government had started work on the construction of three museums while another one was in pipeline. He said that work started for the promotion of archaeology had no precedent in future saying that the NWFP Museum had the biggest collection of Ghandhara civilisation in the world.
He further said that work on the establishment of Islamic and Tribal Galleries had also been completed.
The Director Museum said that the department had already approved the establishment of cafeterias in the Museums of Peshawar, Charsadda and Mardan.
The Chief Guest, Professor Fidaullah Sehrai said that the history of Ghandhara civilisation was thousands of years old having multi-language and cultures. He stressed for the better utilisation of the archaeological sector for promotion of tourism. "Archaeology play role in providing material for promotion of tourism," Sehrai added.
On this occasion, General Manager, STC Mushtaq Ahmad Khan readout the message of the Chief of World Tourism Organisation. The function was also addressed by General Manager Sehrai Tours Operators, Zahoor Ahmad Durrani.