Peshawar:Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Thursday stressed the need to promote the province’s rich heritage, culture and tourism through floral festivals and other cultural activities, saying such initiatives would help project province’s soft image at the international level.
He expressed these views during a meeting with a delegation of the Floral Society led by Fareeda Tariq Nishter at Governor House.
The delegation discussed proposals for organizing flower festivals in Peshawar and exchanged ideas on promoting the province’s heritage and culture through floral exhibitions and meetings with relevant organizations.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Kundi said Pakistan was a beautiful country with immense tourism potential and its positive image should be highlighted globally.
He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was blessed with scenic beauty and tourism opportunities, adding that lasting peace was essential for the growth of the tourism sector.
The Governor regretted that despite spending billions of rupees on Peshawar’s beautification, no significant improvement was visible. He said Peshawar was a historic city that deserved better planning and preservation.
He also emphasized the need for more recreational facilities for families and modern public libraries to promote reading culture.
He said illegal timber cutting had damaged the province’s greenery and called for effective measures to protect the environment.
Referring to recent developments, Governor Kundi said the long-standing Namak Mandi gas issue had been resolved, South Air had launched flights from Peshawar to Quetta and would soon start services to Lahore, while an air ambulance service would also be launched in the near future.
He added that the Governor House had been renovated and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at preserving heritage, promoting tourism and improving the cultural landscape of the province.