SARDAR YASUR ILYAS
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Tourism Sardar Yasir Ilyas has announced that Pakistan will develop a comprehensive 10-year tourism policy in collaboration with all provinces to revive and promote the long-neglected tourism sector.
In an exclusive interview with a TV channel, Ilyas emphasized that tourism in Pakistan has been overlooked for years, but the government now aims to transform it into a key driver of economic growth and employment.
He stated that the upcoming national tourism policy would be created jointly with the provinces to ensure broad support and implementation.
He said that the government plans to establish Special Tourism Zones throughout the country to attract foreign investment and generate job opportunities for local communities.
Speaking about development in Islamabad, Ilyas said that projects are underway to build a zipline, chairlift, safari zoo, and a theme park.
On the religious tourism front, he highlighted efforts to promote the ancient Gandhara civilization and to restore and activate Sikh gurdwaras to attract international pilgrims.
He further mentioned that tourism-related properties owned by the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), the federal government, and provincial authorities could be developed through partnerships with private investors.
These efforts, he noted, will not only strengthen the tourism sector but also help reshape Pakistan’s global image as a vibrant and welcoming destination.
