Information Centers for Pakistan Yatras

Representational

Wednesday, June 18, 2014 - Lahore—The government of the Punjab has decided to establish four Tourists Information Centres (TICs) for facilitation of Sikh devotees coming to Pakistan for “Yatra” of their religious shrines spread over the province of Punjab.

These TICs will be established near Wahga, Ganda Singh Wala and Sulemanki border while another TIC will be established in Nankana Sahab, the “Janam Asthan of Guru Nanak Jee”, spiritual leader of the Sikh community.

This was disclosed by the Punjab Minister for Education and Tourism, Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan while presiding over a meeting to review ongoing reforms process in the tourism sector, here Tuesday at P&D SecretariatVarious Sikh Yatrees accompanied by the local Sikh religious leader Sardar Sham Singh and other members of Gurudwara Parbandhak committee also attended the meeting. Raashid Bin Masud, Zulfiqar Ahmed, Sabina Ahmed, Maryyam Raheem and other tour managers were also present on the occasion.

Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan informed the meeting that six kanals of government land is available with the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab near the Wahga Border Lahore which will be developed into a facilitation centre for Sikh Yatrees.

He said, TDCP will establish a resort in Nankana Sahab which will be built over 15-kanals of land and will have food courts, play area and cultural centre also.

The Minister directed the TDCP Managing Director Javed Akhtar Mehmood to prepare feasibility report for establishing the HQ of Tourism Department in Johar Town, Lahore.

This new building will be erected in four kanal area owned by the TDCP. The Headquarter will be equipped with skilled human resource and state-of-the-art model tourism complex having a marketing units with info-material, data bank, guiding maps and other online facilitation systems.

Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan directed to expand Punjab Tourism Advisory Council by adding the representatives of Trade Development Authority, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry besides inducting 3 representatives of Tour Operators, 2 representatives of Travel Agents Association of Pakistan, one representative each from Hospitality Association and Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee while eminent tourism writers should also be co-opted in the Advisory Council, the Minister added.