To enhance environmental conservation and provide socio-economic advantages to local communities, ecotourism can play a vital role, opined Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam addressed in a message on World Tourism Day (celebrated ever year worldwide on September 27 to honour tourism's significance, "Tourism and Peace" is the theme for this year). She said, “Pakistan is an emerging tourist destination for eco-friendly travel tourism. It brings people together and grow people-to-people contact leading to more peaceful, coherence and connectivity amongst people. Sustainable and environmental-friendly tourism help transform communities by creating green jobs, fostering inclusion and strengthening local economies socially and economically.

The PM’s climate aide Romina Khurshid Alam said, a part of promoting environmentally-sustainable tourism in the country, the government’s initiatives to plant trees all over the country including one million trees' plantations on the Margalla Hills and setting up camping villages in various northern areas aimed at achieving sustainable tourism development goals. Ms Alam said eco-tourism in Pakistan emphasises local community engagement, ensuring that tourism benefits rural populations economically and socially. The Country’s stunning areas such as the Northern Areas with peaks like Nanga Parbat, lush valleys like Hunza, and coastal regions along the Arabian Sea, offering unique eco-adventures. "By advancing ecotourism, Pakistan aims to empower local communities, combat food insecurity, and improve access to renewable energy, internet, and clean water creating a win-win scenario for both the environment and the economy," she added.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan