ISLAMABAD: The federal government is mulling to take immediate measures topromote coastal tourism in the country, as the development of Pakistan’scoastal areas could help the government earn $5 billion per annum.
According to the Maritime Study Forum, the government intends to developcoastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan and a study has already beenconducted in this regard.
Pakistan hardly generates around $50,000 from this industry.
The forum recently conducted a survey wherein it was revealed that around70pc of Pakistanis have either never experienced coastal tourism or had notseen Pakistan’s coastline beyond Karachi.
It suggested the federal and provincial governments of Sindh andBalochistan take immediate and concrete steps to promote coastal tourismand avert sea blindness.
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As per Air Vice-Marshal (r) Ijaz Malik, Pakistan needs to learn fromcoastal tourism development models of countries that are exploiting thesector’s potential. In this regard, he suggested the UAE model could helpPakistan develop its coast into a thriving tourism industry.
Meanwhile, senior journalist and anchorperson Nadia Naqi explained howPakistan’s coastal tourism has remained stagnant through decades.
“In order to promote coastal tourism, we not only need to developinfrastructure on coasts but also bring about sustainable development thatprotects the coastal ecosystem,” she stated.
