Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has highlighted government measures aimed at promoting tourism across Pakistan, including strengthening tourism infrastructure, creating employment opportunities and supporting socioeconomic development for local communities and young people associated with the sector.
In his message on World Tourism Day, observed on September 27, the prime minister paid tribute to tourists and people working across the tourism industry in Pakistan and around the world. He acknowledged their spirit of exploration, curiosity and discovery while highlighting Pakistan’s diverse tourism potential.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan was blessed with a wide range of natural landscapes, historical monuments, civilizational heritage, cultural traditions and religious sites. He particularly highlighted the country’s mountain ranges, scenic valleys and favourable climate as attractions with potential to draw international visitors.
The prime minister said the government was working to improve tourism infrastructure while creating greater employment and development opportunities for local communities and young people connected with the sector. He also reaffirmed the government’s stated commitment to presenting Pakistan as a safe, attractive and competitive tourism destination.
Highlighting Pakistan’s historical and cultural diversity, Shehbaz Sharif referred to the country’s thousands of years of history, including the Indus Valley and Gandhara civilizations. He also pointed to historically significant and sacred sites associated with Sikhism, Buddhism and other faiths as opportunities for the development of religious tourism.
According to the prime minister, tourism can contribute to economic growth while also strengthening connections between nations and communities. He said exposure to different cultures can broaden perspectives, enrich human potential and encourage greater understanding among people.
He further linked tourism and recreation with healthy and constructive activities, describing them as part of a balanced way of life.
Pakistan’s tourism sector encompasses a broad range of opportunities, from mountain and adventure tourism to cultural, archaeological, religious and heritage tourism. The country’s historical sites, diverse landscapes and cultural traditions provide a varied base for tourism development.
The World Tourism Day message placed tourism within a wider context of employment, community development, cultural exchange and economic activity, while underscoring the importance of continued efforts to develop Pakistan’s tourism infrastructure and destinations.
