The Government of Punjab has decided to form a new body called the Punjab Tourism and Heritage Authority to promote tourism across the province.
The draft of the Punjab Tourism and Heritage Authority Act 2025 will soon be presented in the Punjab Assembly, according to official documents obtained by Dunya News.
Under the proposed law, the Punjab Tourism and Heritage Authority will be led by the Chief Minister as Chairperson, while the Tourism Minister will serve as Vice Chairperson. Key provincial secretaries from tourism, finance and planning departments will also be part of the authority.
The authority will be responsible for setting policies and guidelines to promote tourism and preserve cultural heritage. It will also work with related departments to encourage eco-tourism and develop environment-friendly tourist destinations.
Mapping of tourist sites, data collection and establishing a code of conduct for the tourism sector will also fall under its mandate.
According to the bill, the authority will organize international seminars and workshops to attract global tourists and will have the power to impose fines for violations of tourism laws. It will also promote public-private partnerships and have the authority to form inspection teams and reclaim occupied tourist sites when necessary.
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A Director General will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the authority, which will have the right to approve its own budget. The Auditor General of Punjab will conduct the financial audit.
After being presented in the Assembly, the bill will be sent to a relevant committee for two months of review before final approval by the Governor of Punjab.
