Sindh Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) has asked the finance department to enhance its annual budget from Rs 11 million to Rs 20 million, it is learnt on Thursday. Sources inside the finance department told this scribe that on the recommendation of Managing Director STDC Manzoor Ahmed Qanasro, Secretary Tourism Syed Safdar Ali Shah had written a letter to the secretary finance seeking an increase in the budget of the corporation.
"As the government of Sindh has revised the basic pay sales and allowances in the fiscal years 2008-09 to 2011-12, but no enhancement in annual grant of STDC has been made, as such the normal affairs of the corporation are badly hampered due to financial constraints," the letter said. It was requested that the annual grant-in-aid of STDC might be enhanced from current Rs 11 million to Rs 20 million in order to meet the expenditures on account of increased salaries and allowances and other administrative expenses of the corporation.
When contacted, Manzoor Qanasro said that he had made proposals for renovation of the STDC-run rest houses, hotels and other buildings besides some new schemes. He vowed to bring revolutionary changes in the corporation for the promotion of tourism in the province, if he was given more time, as currently he was serving on a deputation basis. The STDC is a subsidiary institution of Provincial Tourism Department, established in 2002, with a mandate to promote tourism in the province.