ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid on Friday said the federal government was supporting provinces for promotion of tourism in the country.

Speaking at a World Tourism Day event organised by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), he said tourism helped promote friendly and cordial relations between nations and it was vital for boosting economic activity, income generation, job creation and poverty alleviation.

Tourism has 10 per cent share in the global economy and it makes the world more stable by creating goodwill and bringing people together from far-off places, he added.

The minister observed that Pakistan had tremendous potential to boost tourism on a sustainable basis because of its landscapes and diverse culture.

Pakistan, the land of 5,000-year-old Indus Valley civilization, has rich traditions of art and architecture and its people are hardworking and talented.

The minister said it was right that Pakistan had religious and cultural diversities and the country a cradle of old civilizations of Gandhara, Buddhism and Moenjodaro but it was unfortunate that “we have problem of narrow mindedness. Our hearts are now not that big to take care of our national heritage and cultural assets.”

It is unfortunate that Muslims worshipping in the United States, Britain, Japan, China and other countries feel safe but they feel unsafe when they go to mosques in Pakistan, he added.

“Parents are anxious when their children are in school and children are worried when their parents are out for work.”

Mr Rashid said a tourist can dare to visit another country for adventure, bear difficulties of travel and can spend nights without facilities but if his life is in danger, it becomes a different matter.

“We have to think whether we want to continue living in the same situation or we will take steps to improve the circumstances.”

Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) Nadeem Hassan Asif said the civic body was taking measures for the promotion of tourism. He said by promoting tourism in Islamabad as well as in Pakistan we can earn a lot of revenue.He said Islamabad had a number of attractive places for tourists but these were not projected properly.

He said the federal capital offered too many archeological, historical and cultural sites to the tourists. —APP