Australia to boost tourism in Punjab

Lahore: Tourism Development Corporation, Punjab and Australian Trade Commission in Pakistan have decided to constitute a joint focal group to promote Region Specific Tourism in Punjab through historical mapping of all the districts of the province besides collaborating in conservation work of historical heritage of Punjab already recognized world over.

This was decided in a meeting between Punjab Tourism Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan and an Australian delegation headed by Ms. Nicola Watkinson, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for South Asia, accompanied by Australian High Commissioner Peter Heyward, Country Manager Australia Trade Commission Azhar H. Shah, Regional Business Development Manager Tahir Mahmood and Tourism Consultant Ms. Libby Owen. Chairperson Standing Committee on Tourism Development in the Punjab Assembly Ms. Tahia Noon, General Manager Administration TDCP Ms. Afshan Kiran and GM Operations Tanvir Jabbar. It was agreed in the meeting that the Australian Tourism Consultants will collaborate with TDCP to bring the Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Punjab at par with the international standard.

Australian Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for South Asia, Ms. Nicola Watkinson reaffirmed Australi’s commitment on further developing trade and investment opportunities and said that the two way trade was currently around AUS dollar 706 million between Australia and Pakistan which should become manifold in the days to come.

 Punjab Minister for Tourism Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan termed it a good omen that more than 7500 students from Pakistan are pursuing higher education at Australian universities. He suggested to exchange study tour delegations of both the countries to witness the new initiatives being introduced by the relevant governments in higher education sector which would help expand mutual cooperation in this regard.