National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): Gilgit-Baltistan has received record breaking
tourists of around one million as compared to the 0.6 million last year registering a four percent increase.
Talking to APP here on Friday, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and
Gilgit-Baltistan and Governor GB, Ch Muhammad Barjees Tahir said,”GB has a great potential for tourism as it has nine major peaks of the world which is main interest for the tourists”.
“We are taking steps to improve tourism policy and road
infrastructure especially GB-Skardu road on priority basis to facilitate more tourists”, he said.
He said the number of foreign tourists have exceeded from the past due
to the better law and order situation .
Local festivals played an important role for attracting the foreign
tourists as the government and private organizations fully participated in the festivals not only to make them successful but also promote the tourism business in Pakistan by making the northern areas as a safe heaven for the tourists.
He said the Silk Route links the Central Asia to the world offering
unique opportunity for the youth of Gilgit Baltistan to show their art, culture and traditional heritage to boost the tourism, trade and cultural exchange of their area and open new avenues of trade and
cultural exchange.
He said tourism policy was approved previous year and the security was
ensured for the tourists to enjoy in peaceful manner.
The government was boosting tourism sector in every aspect as the
industrial sector had flouresh, opening more job opportunities for common man, he said.
He said the investment in GB was rapidly growing people were investing
in hotels to increase the ratio of tourism.
He said the schools and colleges got boost to facilitate children in
education sector.
He said in GB about 20 camping sites are available for tourists to enjoy nature.
At the crossroads of various civilizations for centuries, ascending
towards the world known peaks of Gilgit Baltistan, the glory of Altit and Baltit forts, rock carvings and many other archaeological sites not only serve the tourists as major attraction but also keep alive the identity of fading ancient heritage on vertical limits of the Northern Areas.