Italy to support Pakistan to promote tourism: Ambassador Stefano Pontecovero

Islamabad: Italian Ambassador to Pakistan Stefano Pontecovero on Wednesday said his country would support Pakistan to promote tourism.

“I had an excellent meeting with the impressive Syed Zulfikar Bukhari (Special Assistant to the PM) and his team and Dr Benini from Italy. We will cooperate with Pakistan to encourage tourism,” he said.

The envoy said Italy would also support Pakistan in the excellent work already under way. “We acknowledge Pakistan’s potential,” he added.

Italy, he said, was ready to extend technical and financial assistance for promoting sustainable tourism in Pakistan which will eventually help redress specific social issues.

The envoy said Italy was willing to extend technical assistance to Pakistan for the execution of community-based projects in the tourism sector to alleviate poverty, generate income, and support youth employment.

Lauding Pakistani government’s steps for tourism promotion in the country, he said the opening of Kartarpur Corridor was a landmark initiative, said an official statement issued after the meeting.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan had emerged as a leader in the comity of nations due to Pakistan’s remarkable foreign policy initiatives.

Zulfikar Bukhari, who is also Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis, assured the ambassador of his government’s full support for the execution of Italian initiatives in tourism sector.

After the restructuring of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), he said the government was planning to lease out the Corporation’s 40 properties for 30 years in a bid to transform it into a profitable entity. A special cell for data analysis of the tourism sector was also being set up in the PTDC, he added.

He said the government was enhancing coordination with the provinces through NTCB to boost tourism.“Around 20 billion US dollars will be added to the Pakistani economy, with the successful development of tourism industry,” he remarked.

Zulfikar Bukhari said Pakistan had achieved a major milestone by opening the Kartarpur Corridor which would eventually promote the religious tourism in Pakistan.

He said the government was working on the development of ‘Brand Pakistan’ to project the country as a tourist haven that would eventually increase influx of foreign tourists.

He said the government, in collaboration with provinces, was developing the Gandhara Corridor to attract tourists from the South East Asian Countries.

“Pakistan attaches great importance to sustainable tourism in Pakistan and will focus on religious tourism, adventure tourism, cultural tourism, and towards the growth of intangible cultural heritage,” he added.