India has approved Kashmir food festival to be held in March this year for about 10 days in Lahore.
The food festival would be held at Avari according to Aziz Wani, Managing Director, Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) and the organiser of the festival, who returned here from New Delhi after getting clearance for the food festival.
Five to seven Kashmiri Chefs and helpers besides an officer would be sent to Lahore for the festival, Wani said, adding that New Delhi had also agreed to provide financial assistance to the JKTDC for the festival.
"We have sought Rs 5 million. However, we are expected to get about Rs 1.5 million", he said. Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Ministry is also reported to have cleared the ground for holding Kashmir festival.
To a question, Wani said he would personally like to go to Lahore provided his visit was cleared by New Delhi. Otherwise, a senior officer would be deputed with the chefs and helpers to explain to the people about the Kashmiri food items.
The food festivals in metro cities were aimed at attracting the maximum number of tourists to the State by highlighting the specialities. "The idea is to give a boost to tourism in the State," JKTDC MD said.