Minister for Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution Zulfkar Ali today called for promoting eco-friendly tourism activities in the rural areas of the state, as eco-tourism is an effective vehicle for empowering local communities to fight against poverty and to achieve sustainable development.The Minister said this while addressing a public gathering at the revered shrine of Saint Baji Mohd Shafi at Nanga Thub Top in Rajouri. The Minister also paid obeisance at shrine and prayed for peace and prosperity of the State.“The tourism in the state must be promoted but not at the cost of environment. Our environment is a heritage and legacy that needs to be protected for survival of the mankind, the Minister emphasized.The Minister further said that the state of Jammu & Kashmir has immense potential for developing pilgrim tourism to attract tourists from all over the World. We have many revered shrines of great saints, famous temples and historic Gompas in our State which can attract a large number of tourists every year, he added.
The Minister asked the Tourism Department to help the local populace in building requisite infrastructure in their respective areas so that they can draw maximum benefit from the tourism related activities in their vicinity.Reaffirming the government’s commitment to boost tourism in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, the Minister said that the tourism potential of 7 lakes of Pir Panchal would be explored and they would be developed as world class tourist destinations.The Minister further said that the state government is working on war footing basis for the holistic development of the state and many developmental initiatives have been taken by the government in this regard , added the minister.The Minister while taking a round of Nanga Thub asked the officers concerned to chalk out a plan for developing Golf Course at the site for developing it as tourist destination.Director CAPD GS Chib, ADC Rajouri Mumtaz Chowdhary, CEO Rajouri Development Authority Mohd Rashid Chowdhary and other officers also accompanied the Minister.