ISLAMABAD - World Tourism Day was observed throughout the world Thursday under the theme Tourism & Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development. Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), Ibex Sports & Leisure Club and Adventure Club jointly organised wall climbing competition at Lake View Park. More than 300 students, both girls and boys, participated in the competition.
The competition was arranged with a view to promote adventure sports like climbing and mountaineer among Pakistani youth, says a press statement issued here on Thursday.
The competition was male and female climbers for five categories i.e. under-9, under-12, under-15, under 18 and above 18. PTDC and the Adventure Club have been organizing this event since 2006. Participants from City School, Beacon House, Multi Adventure Club, NUST, IIUI, Falcon Club, Chenab Nagar and Sui Northern Gas have participated in the competition.
While speaking on the occasion, the chief guest Mir Shahjahan Khetran, Managing Director PTDC, congratulated Adventure Club on holding the climbing competition in collaboration with PTDC on the occasion of World Tourism Day which will create awareness amongst youth of Pakistan about importance of mountains in human life and promotion of tourism as well as sports in the country. He was delighted to see a large number of youngsters and children in the audience and was confident that Pakistani youth is developing a taste of tourism and adventure sports.
Education and extracurricular activities help student attain the success in their future. He said that the event has become more relevant due to the fact that these competitions will be concluded today which is also being celebrated as the World Tourism Day. Tourism is 3rd largest industry of the world and the role of youth and ladies is very important for its promotion. We will have to work together because collective cooperation is the road to development.
He added that Pakistan is facing a number of challenges like energy crises and law & order situation in different parts of Pakistan, due to which, promotion of tourism has become more difficult. We should work hard and honestly to face this situation to adopt new steps for using renewable energy resources. 
This year’s theme aims to highlight tourism’s role in a brighter energy future; a future in which the world’s entire population has access to modern, efficient and affordable energy services. Tourism, one of the world’s largest economic sectors, has already taken important steps towards this future - improving energy efficiency and increasingly using renewable energy technologies in its operations. These steps are creating jobs, lifting people out of poverty and helping to protect the planet. Its purpose is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. The event seeks to address global challenges outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals.
At the end of the Competition, Prize Distribution Ceremony was held where Managing Director PTDC presented prizes and certificates were awarded to the winners.