Rs471b tourism push, heritage revival, eight tourism circuits announced in budget 2026-27

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jun, 2026) The Punjab government on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious tourism and destination economy strategy in the provincial budget 2026-27, announcing projects worth hundreds of billions of rupees aimed at promoting tourism, preserving heritage, attracting investment and creating employment opportunities across the province.

Presenting the budget in the Punjab Assembly, Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said that under the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the government was transforming tourism into a major driver of economic growth.

The minister said that during fiscal year 2025-26, the Department of Tourism, Archaeology and Museums implemented 91 development projects under an integrated data and technology framework. These initiatives included an app portal, e-business licensing, digital mapping of 172 tourist sites, the establishment of the Punjab Tourism Force, tourism internship programmes, and projects related to water sports, paragliding, chairlifts and cable cars.

He said significant resources were also invested in the restoration and upgradation of heritage sites, including the Lahore Museum, Taxila, Rohtas Fort, Harappa, Hiran Minar, Derawar Fort, and several other historic forts, shrines and museums. A separate project worth Rs4 billion was underway for the beautification and upgradation of the heritage site at Taxila.

Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said that to engage youth in the tourism sector, the government successfully completed the CM Magnificent Punjab Tourism Internship Programme, under which 1,000 young people received training at a cost of Rs one billion. Tourism sites in Chakwal, Rajanpur, Kasur, and Murree were upgraded, while tourism development projects in Changa Manga and Chashma continued at a cost of Rs8.

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71 billion, of which Rs5.55 billion was spent during the current fiscal year, he added.

The minister informed the House that under the Chief Minister's Economic Transformation Vision, total investment of Rs471 billion was expected over the next three years, including Rs171 billion from the public sector and Rs300 billion from the private sector.

As part of this initiative, the government would launch the Lahore Heritage Project at a cost of Rs31 billion, the North Pothohar Eco Tourism Project at Rs42 billion, and the Religious Trail Punjab Project at Rs20 billion. He said these projects would strengthen the local economy, attract investment and generate new employment opportunities.

Additional projects announced in the budget included the Walled City of Rawalpindi Project worth Rs eight billion, construction of a new block for the Lahore Museum at a cost of Rs5.6 billion, and the CM Lahore Authority for Heritage Revival Programme Phase-II costing Rs12 billion.

The finance minister further announced a comprehensive Destination Economy Initiative under which eight tourism circuits would be established across Punjab at a cost of Rs171 billion. These included the Lahore Heritage Circuit, Religious Tourism Circuit, Shali and Pothohar Circuit, Salt Range Circuit, Cholistan Circuit, Southern Punjab Circuit, Harappa Circuit and Rural Tourism Circuit.

He said the initiative was expected to generate annual tourism revenue of Rs450 billion and create economic opportunities linked to 18 to 30 million tourists. These projects, he added, would showcase Punjab's historical, cultural and religious heritage at the global level while boosting businesses, employment and local economic activity throughout the province.