Aggressive marketing of tourism opportunities to propel development pace in Baluchistan

Quetta, June 6 (APP): Pragmatic strategy with aggressive marketing of tourism opportunities can help trigger fast pace of development in Baluchistan on social as well as economic fronts.Scores of enchanting sites in Baluchistan offer irresistible baiting to both local and foreign tourists, which however need to be projected through effective initiatives by both public and private sector.

Declaring Year-2007 as `Visit Pakistan Year', Federal Ministry of Tourism has set out ambitious goals to promote tourism nationally and internationally through sponsoring various festivals across the country. 

Balochistan, the largest province of Pakistan shares 44% geography of the country having 770 kilometers long the Arabian Sea coastal-line leading to Persian Gulf, is blessed with numerous tourists' attractions due to its historical significance.

The province is the fore-runner of Civilization having the archeological site of Mahargarh 11000 years old in Bolan district which signifies the importance of the province for tourism sector.

The province has international significance for tourism that possesses natural beauty, cultural heritage and ancient civilization. The archeological site of Mahargarh depicts how civil society learnt the way of living and mode of irrigation used at that time in the region. A `Walki-whale' and its skeleton was discovered from this site.

The federal ministry of tourism organized a "Mahargarh Conference" in

April last under the `Visit Pakistan Year' aimed at highlighting the historical

significance of the site. The site not only represents the province, but also the

country, wooing tourists the world over.

Balochistan Chief Minister, Jam Muhammad Yousaf urged at a seminar the government functionaries and people to play their role in preserving the site.

Chairman Archeology Department Peshawar University Dr Muhammad Farooq Swati discussed the ways and means to protect these sites. 

Similarly, Balochistan is immensely blessed with numerous tourists' attraction sites. Over 770 kilometers long coastal belt having a unique fascination for tourists. It is pertinent to mention here that Alexander had passed through the coastal belt of Balochistan in 325 BC covering a long trail.

In Balochistan, Juniper forest what experts believe "living fossils" were found in Ziarat valley another tourists site (some 120 kilometers off from Quetta) which covers the approximate area about 2,50,000 acre of land (one of the largest Juniper forest in the globe).

The climate in Ziarat is experienced as extremely cold during winter season. Junipers wear white snowfall from November to March due to which the forest survives and fascinates tourists. Junipers possess immense power to resist against drought.

It is a tree that could live 72,000 years, according to researches of experts. Besides, juniper forests also exist in Loralai, Pishin, Killa Saifullah and Kalat districts of the province covering the approximate area 55,000 acre of land.

Balochistan is enriched and blessed with mineral resources and natural sites. "Mining tourism industry" attracts tourists for visiting coalmines, caves and experiencing long mountainous areas of the province extending from the province to neighbouring country Afghanistan.

Other attractive places which fascinate tourists included Chaman railway tunnel considered to be one of the biggest and oldest tunnel in the world, historical wetland of Band Khushdil Khan in Pishin district, Sibi festival celebrations and Hanna Urak in Quetta valley.

The federal and the provincial governments are making strenuous efforts to promote tourism sector in Balochistan. In this regard the government has launched numerous projects in the province. Balochistan government is spending Rs55 million on construction of Naseer Khan Noori Cultural Complex in Quetta valley aimed at protecting cultural heritages of the province and improving the means of protection of the cultural heritages.

Besides, four other "cultural complexes" are being set up in Ormara, Jiwani, Pasni and Gwadar (coastal belt). Completion of these projects will not only introduce Balochistan's culture and heritage in the region, but also introduce across the globe.

The government has provided Rs1.5 million to district government Bolan to spend on improvement of communication, construction of stairs and ensure other facilities for tourists in Peer Ghaib valley in the district.

The government is also spending Rs3.2 million on renovation of historic Chakar Azam Fort. It is also considering implementation of the proposed project for establishing `chair lift' in Ziarat valley for visitors, besides setting up an `information center' for them.

The federal government has decided to establish Sibi Museum and a `library' at a cost of Rs 90 million in Sibi in order to facilitate tourists coming from other parts of the country and abroad.

The government will also establish "Mahargarh Museum" amounting to Rs 8 million in collaboration with the provincial government aimed at preserving precious historic stones and heritage of Mahargarh and provide information to tourists in the site.

The federal government will also set up an "embroidery center" amounting to Rs five million in Kharan district under special directive of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. The objectives behind the establishment of the center are to promote and encourage the art of embroidery, collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret examples of fine cultural embroidery works of the province abroad to attract tourists.

The federal tourism ministry will also organize various programmes under the "Visit Pakistan Year". These included Freedom Jeep Rally from Ormara to Gwadar in August, Jashne-e-Sahil Gwadar in October, and planning to organize jeep rally in Ziarat district, besides reviving `Quetta Festival' which has not been organizing for the last five years aimed at promoting tourism nationally and internationally through sponsoring various festivals in the country.

Tourism sector was neglected in the past, but the present government is making all-out efforts to promote this sector and it will be promoted even at tehsil level in the country. In this connection inter-districts and inter-provincials coordination will be established by tourism ministry.

Besides, "offices of tourism cells" will be set up in every districts of the province, the chairman Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation said.

In spite of these sustained efforts by the federal and the provincial governments, more attention is required to further improve and strengthen the tourism industry in Balochistan. Juniper trees are suffering from various diseases as `fungus', `seed and cone insects', `diabec (top drying of matured trees) and grazing.

The local people cut juniper trees for manufacturing furniture. Now, Juniper trees deserve due attention of the concerned governmental and non-governmental organizations for necessary treatment.

Gwadar port city when gets accomplished, will become the future city of Pakistan as well as of Asian region that links the Central Asian states with other countries through sea water besides attracting tourists worldwide. 

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