[Clarifications from KP Information Minister on Tourism] Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shah Farman has lashed out at those spreading deliberate lies to malign the PTI leaders and Minister for Information of the province. He pointed to the latest baseless attacks against Mahmood Khan Minister for Tourism and Sports regarding his visit to Berlin, Germany. Had those attacking him bothered to verify their facts they would not have revealed their mala fide intentions, Shah Farman added. In a statement issued here, he has clarified that a visit by a delegation led by the provincial Minister for Tourism to Berlin last month was to participate in one of the leading travel and trade exhibitions globally - International Tourism Exchange - in which the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been participating since 1995. The Gilgit Baltistan government which had booked space for a Pakistan Pavilion asked KP to participate alongside by sharing some of the cost for the Pavilion - settled at an extremely reasonable cost of Rs 0.2m. Shah Farman also pointed out that the Tourism Corporation KP had set up its own Tour Operating Company to attract tourists especially from East Asia for whom KPs Buddhist history and sites has a special attraction. The delegation comprised 6 members led by the Minister for Tourism and there was an overwhelming response not only from other foreign participants but also from overseas Pakistanis settled in Germany. Shah Farman hoped this would be translated into increasing tourism for KP. Shah Farman also said it was vital for KP to counter the negative information and travel advisories issued against the province and the Minister for Tourism was the logical man to do this at the opportunity offered through the multilateral tourism exchange exhibition in Berlin. This is an essential part of the Ministers task and he has performed it exceedingly well so far - as the growing local tourism and festivals in KP are testimony to, he added. Nor was the expenditure of the delegation Rs 20 m as alleged through blatant lies. Rs 2.9 m had been earmarked for this visit from TCKPs own sources but the CM KP, realizing the critical importance of opening up KPs tourism potential, approved the visit and allotted Rs 02.00 m. How that became Rs 20m for the critics is mind boggling, Shah Farman stated. He asserted that It was evident that Mahmood Khan was being targeted on fabricated charges as part of a campaign to smear the PTI government in KP because the political opponents cannot accept that this government was actually delivering to the people and rooting out the traditional corrupt ways of governance, he concluded.
Posted on: Fri, 11 Apr 2014 16:14:27 +0000
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