The president of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called for incentives and facilitation for the private sector to unlock Pakistan's tourism potential and double the sector's contribution to the economy. Nosherwan Khalil Khan said the goal could be reached over the next few years with the right policies in place.

Mr Khan said tourism currently contributes about 5.8 to 6 per cent of Pakistan's gross domestic product, and that the share could rise significantly through effective policies, public-private partnerships and investment-friendly initiatives. He was speaking at the Second Pakistan Tourism, Sports and Family Festival in Islamabad.

He said incentives for the private sector were essential to developing tourism infrastructure, improving facilities and creating new economic opportunities. The chamber president attended the festival's inaugural ceremony at the Pakistan Sports Complex alongside vice president Ikram Abbasi and executive committee members.

Research supports the scale of the opportunity. A study by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry puts tourism's contribution at about 5.9 per cent of GDP, supporting 4.7 million jobs, with tourism export earnings of 1.15 billion dollars in 2024.

The festival, which opened on 6 November and runs until 8 November, brings together cultural stalls, sport and family entertainment from across the country, underlining the sector's growing profile. Read the full report in the Islamabad Post.