Mountaineering, tourism bring much awaited economic development: Zartaj Gul.

ISLAMABAD -- Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul here Thursday said that Mountaineering and tourism can bring much awaited prosperity and economic development to the northern parts of the country. Addressing to the closing ceremony of the 9th Pakistan Mountain Festival, she said that the hardworking natives of the area are the custodians of this indigenous culture.

Pakistan is a land of wonderful landscapes with having unmatchable high mountains, lakes and sufficient scenic beauty to lure the foreign tourists, she said.

In a bid to promote tourism,she said that the government has relaxed its visa policy for the foreign tourists to enhance the tourism influx.

She said that it was need of the hour to have a comprehensive plans to combat the challenge like climate change, poverty and natural disasters.

The State Minister appreciated the Devcom-Pakistan (Development Communications Network) for consistently developing and strengthening the Pakistan Mountain Festival, a flagship annual thematic advocacy event that engages the stakeholders up and downstream.

PYHA National Secretary Ambassador (retd) Qazi Humayun said that the PYHA has thirteen hostels mostly in the mountains that could be used for engaging local youth and...