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By APD Writer Muhammad Sohail
**ISLAMABAD, Sept. 29 (APD) -- **The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a project backed and funded by China, has been creating a number of investment opportunities in Pakistan’s tourism sector, an official statement said on Friday.
Abdul Ghafoor, Managing Director of Pakistan Tourism, told a ceremony organized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) that Pakistan has successfully dealt with security threats and that the on-going CPEC project has changed the economic landscape of Pakistan.
Pakistani children are performing at a ceremony to celeberate the world tourism day in Pakistani capital of Islamabad.
The CPEC, a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, was inaugurated by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Pakistan in April 2015. Under the CPEC a number of projects in the fields of energy, infrastructure and industrial parks, as well as Gwadar port are being built at a rapid speed.
“CPEC has promoted a new face of Pakistan at the international level. A number of investors from around the world are rushing to Pakistan for investment in multiple sectors” said Ghafoor, adding that the CPEC has created a lot of investment opportunities in Pakistan’s tourism sector because not only the number of locals but also foreign tourists have surged this year.
The managing director also urged the UNWTO to hold its events and conferences in Pakistan to create awareness about the beauty and tourist destinations of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the International Development Association (IDA) has agreed to give a 50 million U.S. dollars to Pakistan’s northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to develop tourist sites in the valleys of natural beauty, including Chitral, Naran and Galliyat.
These sites are famous for natural habitats like lakes, rivers, streams, glaciers, forests, mountains, valleys and habitats of important biodiversity for both residential and migratory birds, and wildlife species.
Chitral Valley, at an elevation of 1,128 meters, is neighbouring Afghanistan and is undoubtedly the most romantic, captivating and enchanting place in the majestic Hindukush range.
Located at 7,888 feet above sea level, Naran Valley is the main centre of tourism north of Pakistan. Several road projects have already been approved under the CPEC to connect tourist sites located in northwest and northern areas of Pakistan.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
