ISLAMABAD – The government of Pakistan is offering a tax break for foreigninvestors in the tourism sector in a bid to attract Foreign DirectInvestment (FDI) into the country.
The government has planned to invite foreign investment into the countryfor establishing tourism zones in potential northern areas, including Swat,Galiat, Hazara region, Gilgit Baltistan and other tourism zones, ChairmanBoard of Investment (BOI), Zubair Gilani told.
Gilani said huge foreign investment was expected in tourism sector asgovernment was focusing on building this sector on a priority basis.
The chairman said the government intended to diversify tourism byexploiting its various sectors. “Priority of the government is to boosttourism of diverse fields including religion and faith, adventure, andmedical and educational tourism to promote soft image of the country at theglobal level,” he added.
He said the government would ensure provision of all modern facilities toprovide an enjoyable and secure environment to tourists, adding that itwould also empower local community by engaging them in business activity.
Chairman BOI said the government would educate and train people workingwith tourism centers to make them valuable employees and to promote theconcept of shared prosperity.
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He was of the view that public private partnerships and the role of localcommunity was imperative to attract domestic as well as foreign tourists.
He said after foreign investment in tourism, economic activities in theseareas would increase, which would create more job opportunities.
Gilani said to promoting tourism culture through Small and MediumEnterprises (SMEs), the government was working on World Bank’s Ease ofdoing Business (EODB) index. He pointed out that recently Pakistan’sranking in the index has improved from 148 to 136 out of the total 180countries.
Chairman BOI said that the knowledge-based business and economy would be apriority of the government to compete with world economies. He informedthat through knowledge-based business and exports “we can promotePakistan’s hi-tech and innovative export items in competitive internationalmarket”.
