Govt set to restructure PTDC: Zulfi Bukhari.

ISLAMABAD -- In an attempt to bring positive changes in tourism industry through sustained reforms, the government is all set to revamp and revitalize Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) to make it productive and profitable organization, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari on Sunday.

Talking to reporter, Zulfikar Bukhari, who also holds the portfolio of National Tourism Coordination Board (NTCB) Chairman reiterated its government's resolve to capitalize on tourism sector to bolster business activities by branding Pakistan as tourist destination abroad, which would eventually help reinvigorate the country's economy, he added.

He said the board had already initiated the process of restructuring the PTDC and was working on various initiatives to modify its operational structure for yielding positive results.

The NTCB, in its recent meeting deliberated over the names of various professional for appointing as the corporation head and has chosen a qualified person for the slot, he informed.

For building the country's soft image abroad, Zulfikar Bukhari said it would be made mandatory for the PTDC to set up a separate marketing fund to market the country's bewitching and mesmerizing beauty in the other countries.

He regretted that the tourism of Pakistan had remained untapped sector for the decades and not been exploited judiciously, prompting the NTCB to embrace modern technology and innovative methods to project the beauty of Pakistan across the world.

Sharing the details of the recently held federal cabinet meeting, the chairman said he had submitted a long list of the PTDC' employees, who were recruited on political basis and now, the cabinet was evaluating the appointment criteria to decide their fate.

Zulfikar Bukhari also outlined the government's tourism policy for reviving the tourism industry in the five years tenure of his government and said 'The first priority of the NTCB is to strengthen the domestic tourism.

The strong tourism at local level will work as a base to attract foreign tourists, investors and businessmen,' he added.

The long-term...