BAMYAN CITY - Second Vice President Mohammad Sarwar Danish on Saturday urged the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to develop tourism industry in Afghanistan.
Last year, a SAARC delegation visited historic sites in central Bamyan province and decided to declare the province as the cultural capital of the organization.
Danish, who is in Bamyan City to attend an ongoing ceremony marking Bamyan as the cultural capital of SAARC, told Pajhwok Afghan News the province had historical and cultural importance that attracted tourists.
He lamented despite greater tourism opportunities and other economic activities, the people of Bamyan lived under the national poverty line. However, the VP said the government was committed to developing the province and upgrading its communication and transport systems.
SAARC policies aim to promote welfare economics, collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia, and to accelerate socio-cultural development in the region. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal and Afghanistan were members of the organisation established in 1985.
Senate deputy chairman Mohammad Alam Ezedyar said the ceremony to officially declare Bamyan as the cultural capital of SAARC was of high importance and the president should have participated in it.
He lauded enthusiasm shown by Bamyan people, saying they would benefit from privileges as being their province the cultural capital. He said it was like a national festival.
Dr. Musadiq Khalil, youth secretary at the Ministry of Information and Culture, said Bamyan had been introduced on international level after becoming the cultural capital of SAARC. He said the province played an important role in the country’s economic development due it historical and natural sites.
Acting governor Mohmmad Asir Mubaligh spoke about people’s participation and security arrangements for the ceremony.
He said around 40 stalls of handicrafts made in all the 34 provinces had been put on display as part of the celebrations. (Pajhwok)