Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz chaired a pivotal meeting, granting initial approval for the province’s most extensive tourism plan. This initiative will develop, restore, and renovate 170 tourist sites and trails across Punjab, aiming to showcase the province’s rich cultural and historical heritage.
A key component of this plan is the launch of Punjab’s first tourism application, “Magnificent Punjab,” offering virtual tours of the 170 tourist destinations.
The app will include various tourism-related services, such as travel bookings, hotel reservations, online food delivery, and other tourism-related features. It will also incorporate a chatbot to provide instant travel information to users.
The tourism strategy focuses on promoting religious, historical, and archaeological tourism throughout Punjab. To provide visitors with an immersive cultural experience, the government will establish “Tourist Villages” in strategic locations.
Furthermore, Punjab’s inaugural tourism trails will be created, including the Walled City of Lahore, Mall Road, the Mughal heritage along GT Road, and Sikh tourism sites in Eminabad and Gujranwala.
The Gandhara Trail will highlight historical sites such as the Taxila Museum, Dharmarajika Stupa, Julian Monastery, Sirkap, and Giri Fort. Specialized religious tourism trails will connect Gurdwaras and historical churches, and Multan’s Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh will be restored as a symbol of the Indus Valley Civilization. Similarly, Uch Sharif will receive a dedicated pilgrimage trail, and eco-tourism projects will be launched in Changa Manga Forest Park and Lal Suhanra National Park.
To enhance governance in the tourism sector, the Punjab government will introduce the Punjab Tourism & Heritage Authority Act 2025.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz reaffirmed her commitment to transforming Punjab into a global tourism hub, stating that all tourist destinations will be upgraded to international standards. She also announced plans to develop Taxila into a comprehensive tourist site, including the construction of a five-star hotel to accommodate visitors.
