ISLAMABAD: Gilgit-Baltistan Minister of Tourism Raja Nasir Ali on Saturday said mountain tourism is a foundation of the local economy, offering jobs and business possibilities.

He was addressing as chief guest at a daylong conference on Sustainable Mountain Tourism organised on International Mountain Day 2022 by Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) in collaboration with Alpine Club of Pakistan and other partner organizations.

He said mountain women and girls, especially in rural areas, have the potential to be significant change agents as farmers, market vendors, businesswomen, craftsmen, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.

“Women in rural areas can fight hunger, malnutrition, and rural poverty and contribute to the growth of mountain economies when they have access to resources, services, and opportunities.”

He expressed his gratitude towards all partner organisations of this event.

The conference was part of International Mountain Day celebration on the theme of ‘Women Move Mountains’. Women play a key role in protection of environment and natural resources mountainous areas and social and economic development.

In the conference, four sessions were held on the themes of ‘Women Move Mountains’, ‘Sustainable Mountain Tourism in Pakistan’, ‘Adventure Tourism in the Mountain Areas of Pakistan’ and ‘Challenges and Prospects of Mountaineering in Pakistan’ in which guests speakers shared their opinions on the important role played by the women as the primary managers of mountain resources, guardians of biodiversity, keepers of traditional knowledge, custodians of local culture and experts in traditional medicine and significance of mountains for the wild life and life of humans as well.

The chief guest was Minister of Tourism of Gilgit-Baltistan Raja Nasir Ali.

Speaking at the event, Aftabur Rehman Rana, who is managing director Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), said: “Pakistan’s mountain tourism has much to offer to the world with its hidden treasures of natural beauty, diverse landscapes, rich archaeological heritage, most hospitable people and above all, its tourist friendly environment.

“Development of tourism in mountain areas of Pakistan is the top priority of the government. We are committed to improving tourism infrastructure and making all the efforts to promote tourism in mountain areas with the help of provincial governments and private sector,” he said, adding that, “we want to make tourism an engine of economic growth and employment generation for the people of our mountains”.

In the end, awards were also distributed among the mountaineers in order to recognise their efforts to enhance mountain tourism of Pakistan, winners of the competition and the sponsoring organisations.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2022