A foreign tourist holds Pakistan national flag during her visit to Skardu, Gilgat-Baltistan. File

Prime Minister Imran Khan said owing to Pakistan’s immense tourism potential, the government was focused on exploring the sector for revenue and employment generation.

“Pakistan can earn money from tourism alone, both local and international, by revamping the infrastructure and ensuring facilities for tourists,” the prime minister said at the cheque distribution ceremony under Ehsaas scholarships and Kamyab Jawan Programme.

The prime minister, who earlier inaugurated the Kohsar University at the hill resort of Murree, said the world-class institution would play a key role in imparting the local student’s necessary skills in hotel management and tourism.

Imran said education was vital in the development of a nation as no nation could progress without attaining higher learning.

He said education about tourism would help the new generation learn proper techniques to pursue a career in the booming sector.

The prime minister said the previous government spent Rs 830 million on the beautification of the Punjab House for their personal use, however, now the facility was being opened for tourists.

He mentioned that Pakistan’s northern areas, its deserts and the areas of Balochistan offered a diverse range of tourist destinations.

He said Pakistan’s domestic tourism has doubled in recent areas and once the pandemic was over, tourists from across the world would be visiting Pakistan.

He said Switzerland, which was half the size of Pakistan’s northern areas and even did not match its breathtaking natural beauty, was earning $60 to 80 billion annually from tourism alone. Pakistan, he said, has far more scenic areas which can boost our tourism potential.

Imran regretted that the previous governments used the beautiful Murree resort for rest and recreation only, but did not bother to construct even a single good hospital.

He said his government was now constructing a hospital spread over 370 kanals in Murree.

The prime minister said the uplift of poor and neglected sections of society key to a nation’s progress, adding that he had learned from the life of Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) that serving the poor and downtrodden people brings blessings of Allah and leads to prosperity.

He said the Scandinavian countries had followed the principles of humanity and brought in prosperity for their people.

Imran referred to a UNDP report, which clearly mentioned that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had progressed significantly after the year 2013, as the PTI government focused on uplifting its poor and neglected sectors of society. Similarly, he said, it was his desire to repeat the example across the country.

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said that the Punjab government would develop Kotli Sattian as a tourist point just like Murree.

He said tourism, health and education projects for Murree would cost around Rs 7.8 billion to facilitate the tourists as well as the local residents.

He said the inauguration of Kohsar University and introducing tourism as a discipline there was also part of the government’s efforts to promote tourism.

Moreover, the boys and girls colleges of Kahuta, Kotli Sattian and Kalar Syedan will also be upgraded costing Rs1.13 billion.