TDCP chalks out plan to promote tourism

Tourism Development Corporation Punjab (TDCP) has chalked out an elaborate plan to promote tourism in the province by giving priority to under-developed areas.
"The aim of the plan is to provide a chance of equitable distribution of benefit, create job opportunities for the locals through promotion of tourism, alleviate poverty, and enhance tourism potential," Provincial Tourism Minister Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal told APP in an interview here on Sunday.
He said major focus has been laid down on Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur districts where Rs 36.023 million were spent in the area during the financial year and to develop the tourist resort near Sakhi Sarwar and to complete the feasibility study to install a chair lift/cable car system at Fort Munroe.
"The work on these projects is in progress and for this purpose planning has been made to allocate Rs 38.421 million during 2007-08 for the completion of the projects", he added.
Referring to the development of hotel with allied tourist facilities at Bahawalpur, the forest department has issued NOC to transfer this land to the TDCP while the scheme has been included in ADP 2007-08 with an allocation of Rs 5 million, he added.
To a question about tourist resorts at Nankana Sahib Khewra Salt Mines, Cholistan (Near Derawar Fort), Chenab Bridge etc, the minister said that Rs 28.400 million have been allocated for those projects during the financial year 2007-08.
He further said that work is in progress on the project to develop a service area at Khajut on New Dual Carriage Way to Murree. A sum of Rs 5 million were spent by the end of the financial year 2006-07 while Rs 11.179 million will be spent during 2007-08 to complete this project, he added.
Answering another question about the development of exotic Kallar Kahar Lake, the minister said that a scheme has been prepared to preserve the beauty of that area while drainage and sewerage works have already been completed. These facilities will not only save the lake from pollution but the local people will also benefit, he added.
"Release of Rs 54.123 million during the fiscal year 2006-07 and an allocation of Rs 82 million during the current financial year ie 2007-08 for the promotion of tourism in Punjab is unprecedented that portrays the fact the present government is committed to developing and promoting tourism in the province, particularly the areas remained neglected in the past", the minister added.