GILGIT: SIFC’s project Green Tourism is revolutionizing the tourism sector in Gilgit-Baltistan.Under a recent development, the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan and Green Tourism Company have signed an agreement for the promotion of tourism.
Under this agreement 44 dilapidated government guest houses of Gilgit-Baltistan will be renovated in modern style.The guest houses included in agreement were a burden on the government exchequer for many years without benefiting the public.
The development of these guest houses will not only improve the tourism sector in the area but also create employment opportunities.
SIFC was formed to attract investments from friendly countries in identified sectors through an empowered organization that serves as a ‘single-window’ platform for facilitation, and to improve the ease of doing business for potential investors through a ‘Whole of Government Approach’ – achieving optimal horizontal-vertical synergy and facilitation by the Pakistan Army.
Meanwhile, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, met with the Governor of Gilgit Baltistan, Syed Mehdi Shah, to discuss various matters of mutual interest.
During their meeting, the two leaders focused on the current political situation in the country and its implications, emphasizing the importance of cooperation for national stability and development.
Both the governors highlighted the potential for promoting tourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan, which are renowned for their natural beauty and historical heritage. Governor Kundi remarked that enhancing tourism could significantly benefit the national economy and increase employment opportunities for local communities.
He stressed the need for joint tourism projects and improved facilities to expand the industry. Governor Mehdi Shah agreed on the importance of tourism, pointing out the abundant opportunities in Gilgit Baltistan that could be leveraged through collaboration with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He urged airlines, including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), to initiate flights to Gilgit Baltistan to further promote tourism. He also emphasized the necessity of improving infrastructure and facilities for tourists to enhance international tourism.
Both leaders concluded their meeting with a consensus on the need for collective efforts from all provinces and regions to ensure the political stability and economic development of the country.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized the transformative potential of large-scale development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan, as their completion would bring a new era of development and prosperity in the region.
During his visit to Ghizer, PM Shehbaz Sharif laid the foundation stone for various development projects aimed at boosting the region’s infrastructure and energy capacity. He highlighted the importance of these initiatives to uplift Gilgit-Baltistan’s economy and shared his vision of leveraging the region’s tourism potential to bring prosperity to the area.
