Technology and tourism should go hand-in-hand to increase employment and business opportunities in Pakistan, says Dr. Khalid Maqbool, the Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication. The minister gave this remarks while addressing Tech Valley Conference 2019 at NathiaGali.
The 4th tech valley conference in NathiaGali showcased the real challenges faced by the tourism industry in Pakistan. Many startups from Gilgit Baltistan and Karachi presented their ideas to transform the tourism industry and showcased new platforms to discuss the problems faced by the tech and tourism industry.
During the event, multiple panels were conducted for discussion including job creation, capacity building, ecotourism, women empowerment, and financial inclusion.
The National Tourism Board’s (NTB) Chairman Zulfi Bukhari who attended the event as a Chief Guest said, “The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is establishing a tourism zone to promote sector across the province. It would be followed by Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan to get the desired results of digital and sustainable development in the tourism sector”.
The main objective of the conference was to gather the policy and decision makers under one roof and discuss ways to create sustainable jobs through Pakistan’s first ever Tourism Center of Excellence.
Pakistan is continuously making efforts to boost the economy through IT and Tourism sector in Pakistan. Recently, Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) signed an MoU with a delegation from UK Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UKPCCI), who will make an investment of 200 million pounds in the IT, tourism and other sectors in Pakistan.
