ISLAMABAD, 11 August 2021, (TON): Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Pakistan has "great potential" to attract tourists from Muslim countries because they were wary of visiting Europe and other places due to concerns related to Islamophobia.

He made the comment while addressing local residents and people who were part of the government's tree plantation campaign at Sonmiani beach in Balochistan's Lasbela district.

At the outset of his speech, the prime minister said he had seen the area from above during his arrival by helicopter, adding that it could be developed into a tourist spot.

Prime Minister Imran said “the government's efforts should be geared towards improving the lives of the people, to ensure livelihoods for them, education for their children, and health facilities.

It is the foremost responsibility of the government to see how we can make the people's lives better and to first fulfil their basic needs and then [check] how to make them happy.

Talking about Lasbela, the premier said that an industrial estate could not be established in the area but a "splendid tourist resort" could be built instead. He clarified, however, that it would not be the kind of tourist resort where people come and then [go against] our culture and tradition and religion.