Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan says tourism industry of Pakistan can play a significant role in cultivating better people to people ties and linkages between Pakistan and the United States.

He was talking to Minister for Planning & Development Gilgit Baltistan Raja Nasir Ali Khan Maqpoon at Embassy of Pakistan Washington DC.

The Ambassador congratulated Minister Planning GB for organizing a successful show that would surely catapult country’s tourism potential to new levels.

Raja Nasir Khan thanked the Ambassador for the support provided by the Consulate in New York and Pak Embassy Washington in successfully showcasing tourism potential of the country at an international platform.

Minister Planning GB said that US tourists were the second highest in numbers visiting Gilgit Baltistan annually for various kinds tourism including eco-tourism, adventure tourism and others. He apprised the Ambassador about various initiatives being taken for transforming youth potential of Gilgit Baltistan into a productive human capital.

In this context, the Minister said that GB Government was focusing on establishing IT parks, incubation centers, vocational institutes and winter sports for the youth. He informed the Ambassador that equal attention was being paid to girls education and providing them with sports facilities. Out of 52 Ice-Hockey teams that have been raised in the region, 12 were female teams, he said.

Minister Planning GB said that Gilgit Baltistan government, in collaboration with USAID and Rupani Foundation would organize ‘Invest in Pakistan Conference-II’ in May this year to encourage investors especially Pak-American community to invest in various sectors including tourism, hospitality, tech sector, minerals, renewable energy, health, education and clean drinking water.

Discussing international support to the education sector in Gilgit Baltistan, Ambassador Masood Khan especially highlighted the contributions made by Mrs. Diana MacArthur who had been a driving force behind creation of Center for Educational Excellence, in the village of MurtazaAbad, in the Hunza Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan.