Rawalpindi - Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage, Senator Pervaiz Rashid has directed for celebrating Ghandhra Week in a befitting manner in October this year.
Senator Pervaiz Rashid said this while chairing a meeting of PTDC board of directors (BoD), informed PTDC spokesman here on Monday.  The minister directed that a summary to this effect should be moved to seek approval of the prime minister. He also asked the concerned authorities to extend invitation to 11 Buddhist countries to attend celebrations including Buddhist scholars, journalists, travel writers and travel agents.
The minister said that the government was committed to promote tourism in Pakistan and holding of Ghandhra Week Celebrations would explore new avenues for the growth of cultural tourism. Terrorism had badly affected the tourism in Pakistan, but the present democratic government under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is determined to revive the tourism industry in Pakistan, the minister added.
Rashid said that government is making all-out efforts to restore peace in the country so that it could provide a conducive environment to tourists to visit the resorts. He said that Pakistan is endowed with the rich and diverse cultural and religious heritage and has everything which a tourist dreams of.  Rashid also underscored the need to improve and further develop tourist resorts, as the development of the tourism industry will not only create new jobs but would also become a source of economic growth by attracting foreign tourists and foreign exchange.
The PTDC board of directors in its 81st meeting decided about different inquiries against the unlawful acts of officers of PTDC by referring to Cabinet Division for an appointment of inquiry officer. The board also approved the shifting of PTDC office to Islamabad subject to availability of funds. Besides, the board approved the charter of demands submitted by PTDC employees union.