Rawalpindi
Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) arranged a conference in Chakwal in collaboration with the Chakwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) on Saturday.
In this connection, the PTDC headed by its Managing Director, Ch. Abdul Ghafoor Khan, took a selected media team on a visit to Chakwal as a picnic tour. The PTDC officials and other staff members also accompanied the media persons on the one day tour.
On reaching, Kalar Kahar, the managing director, Ghafoor Khan, while talking to media men unveiled his plans for the promotion of tourism in the country. He said his main priority was to promote religious tourism in the country including Islamic, Hindu, Sikh and Christianity. He said PTDC would soon introduce police tourism and their officials would be seen by tourists at every tourist resort. After one hour stay over there the media persons were taken to Chaoa Saidan Shah, the place where the PTDC and CCCI had arranged a joint conference on Tourism and Promotion of Business at the chamber office. Ghafoor Khan appreciated the role of print and electronic media for highlighting efforts of PTDC team for the promotion of tourism in the country.
Prior to the conference, the managing director took journalists to two Hindu temples Hanumaan and Katas where Shakil, the representative of the two temples gave a briefing about the history of the two temples. The representative informed that Katas Mandir (temple) is 3000 years old situated in Choa Saidan Shah. Several temples in Katasraj were built around 900 years ago or more. Care of various ‘mandirs’ is going on very well. However, some ‘mandirs’ have fallen down. Katas Mandir is visited by many visitors from Pakistan and India every year. He also revealed that renowned Mathematician, Albairuni took the measurement of earth in this area when he was studying Sanskrit. Shakil told that PTDC has its own motel in Katas comprising 6 rooms. The motel of PTDC was constructed in 1989 and was run by it only for two years. Now the motel is on lease to TDCP.
On the occasion, Ghafoor Khan told that PTDC is carrying out survey of this area for promoting tourism and providing facilities to tourists as well. After the survey the projects would be identified and on provision of funds by the federal government the construction process would begin.
The journalists along with the managing director took round of the two temples Katas and Hanumaan. Ghafoor Khan expressed concern over the non-availability of electricity. He was told that electricity would soon be introduced in Katas. The managing director also directed the temple authorities for providing uniform to the ‘mandir’ staff which would help the tourists in recognising the officials of the temple without any problem.
While speaking at the joint conference, the PTDC managing director, Ch. Abdul Ghafoor Khan lauded the Pakistan Army for carrying out operations to curb terrorism in the country. Because of our armed forces, normalcy has returned and law and order situation has improved and activities of tourism have gained momentum all over the country particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab areas.
Ghafoor Khan said that because of his efforts the government has declared Chakwal as Model Tourism District. However, still there is need of the hour for taking more practical measures for setting up tourist facilities in addition to maintenance of the existing ones on international standards.
He was all praise to the Prime Minister, Mian Nawaz Sharif for his commitment to see tourism promoted in Pakistan. In this regard, the prime minister is extending all out cooperation to PTDC, Ch. Ghafoor Khan stated.
