LAHORE:
Punjab Prime Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced the launch of a tourism project, “Magnificent Punjab”, aimed at transforming the province into a regional and international center for history, culture and tourism.
As part of the initiative, 170 historical sites, including 101 Gurdwaras and 53 churches, will become world -class tourist destinations. The mapping of these sites has already been completed.
The project has been in process for five months under the leadership of the principal minister Marriyum Aurengzeb, who approved key proposals.
The Punjab Tourism and Heritage Authority is scheduled to supervise all institutions related to tourism and heritage.
A new tourist policy and the Punjab 2024 Tourism and Heritage Authority Law have also been prepared to guarantee structured development.
CM Maryam Nawaz has assigned funds in the Annual Development Plan for the restoration of Punjab heritage sites in three phases, with a work that begins in July.
The first phase is expected to be completed in June, while the second and third phases will continue.
The immediate approval of PC-I has been directed for 16 tourism projects, including Bansara Gali, Tourist Village and several parks.
Among the main initiatives, Taxila will become an international “tourist city”, while Chhanga Manga will become a modern entertainment center modeling after Switzerland.
The Taxila Museum will be updated with modern exhibition centers, a Siddhartha gallery and new places of worship for Buddhist visitors. 46 inactive Gurdwaras will also be restored to attract SIJ pilgrims.
CM Maryam Nawaz emphasized the protection of minority religious sites and the improvement of infrastructure to provide world -class facilities for tourists.
The Dilkush Lahore project has been assigned RS4 billion to preserve the historical meaning of Mall Road.
For the first time, Punjab has been divided into nine tourist regions under the initiative of “tourist paths”, which covers key historical and cultural sites.
A Safari train will run along these paths, and tourists will receive special discounts through associations with the private sector.
The Hiran Minar of the seventeenth century is also ready for restoration, and the Blue Dome will be expanded. Around RS240 million have been approved to modernize the 131 -year -old Lahore Museum.
With the support of UNESCO, the history of 1,000 years of Punjab will be conserved using digital narrative. Tourists will experience the culture of Punjab, popular stories, music, art and heritage suffered through interactive technology.
A digital tourism application has also been developed to provide travel information and services directly to visitors.
CM Maryam Nawaz emphasized that the promotion of tourism will promote the Punjab economy and improve the global image of Pakistan.
“The nations that forget their history, culture and heroes disappear. We are bringing Punjab’s rich inheritance to the world,” he said.
He also praised the principal minister Marriyum Aurengzeb and his team for his dedication, expressing confidence in the successful execution of the project.
