RAWALPIDNI- With the summer holidays announced by the government in educational institutions across the country, Pakistan Tourism and Development Corporation (PTDC) has come up with a comprehensive plan to attract masses for its tourist resorts especially in Khyber Pakhtukhwa, Northern Areas, Kashmir through offering lucrative tour packages.
"We have re-launched summer tour packages and special rates for its hotels, motels, resorts situated in some of the most attractive tourists places in the country in order to promote tourism activities across the country," said PTDC Managing Director Mir Shahjahan Khetran while inaugurating the PTDC Rawalpindi-Naran daily bus service here on Saturday.
He said that group tours for families and students to places like Murree, Ayubia, Shogran, Naran, Lake Saiful Maluk, Swat Valley, Chitral (including Kalash Valley), Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu and Neelum Valley (Azad Kashmir are being offered on special rates which include breakfast, accommodation in PTDC motels and comfortable transport. He also announced 30 per cent discount on accommodation in its Ayubia and Naran Resorts during the holy month of Ramazan. Around 50 percent discount was being offered on accommodation during Ramazan in PTDC motels.
Khetran informed the media here that in order to facilitate travel to Kaghan Valley, PTDC's air-conditioned daily bus service from Rawalpindi to Naran has resumed from June 1.
The MD said that all roads and hotels were now opened for tourists and, as expected, Kaghan Valley would remain a hot favorite destination for Pakistani tourists this year as well. For the last many years, white water sports like river rafting; kayaking in the Kunhar River has added attraction and leisure activities for visitors to Kaghan Valley. As the lifeline of the Kaghan Valley, Kunhar River offers excellent opportunities for such sports.
The MD PTDC highlighted that for the last two years, Swat Valley remained peaceful and with the efforts of the local administration, security agencies, life in Swat has returned as normal. This has created a positive effect on tourism industry of Swat which Pakistani tourists from across the country were now rediscovering once-lost-paradise. Kalash Valley near Chitral is another cultural rich destination attracting tourists from all over the world. It is hoped that the Shandur Polo Festival (starting from 1st July) and Kalash Festival in mid-July would prove to be a magnet for attracting tourists to this region.
With its motels at Bamburet, Chitral, Bunni and Mastuj, PTDC has a strong presence in Chitral district, promoting tourism for the last many decades. Ghizer, Gilgit, Hunza, Gojal, Diamer and Skardu are the places long loved by foreign tourists. Now Pakistan youth has come forward to appreciate the beauty of their own country, taking adventure trips like trekking, hiking, motor-biking, mountain biking and camping, to the world's most spectacular mountain scenery.
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A conference on "Impact of terrorism on creative process" was organized by the Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) under its Adabi Baithak here on Saturday.
Well-known psychiatrist Brig (retd) Dr Mowadat Hussain Rana shed light on the subject of the conference.  Waqar Ahmed, Resident Director RAC, welcomed all the honorable guests.  Renowned novelist Asim Butt opened the discussion by introducing the chief guest and subject matter.  Brig (retd) Dr Mowadat Hussain Rana addressing at the seminar said that it was dire need to know the motives of terrorism because which were the forces who compels to kill himself along with other scores of innocent.