LAHORE: The Second Lahore International Tourism Expo by the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab opened at the Expo Centre in Johar Town on Saturday.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on the occasion the tourism department should promote tourism as the sector could create jobs for the youth.

He also highlighted his government's efforts to develop Lahore as a tourists' attraction in the last few years, saying that foreigners who visited Lahore did praise the infrastructure and horticulture of the city. He said Murree had become a jostling place.

The Punjab government would build a parking lot at Bara Koh where people could park their cars and travel to the hill station through a shuttle service.

There are some 150 stalls at the expo, dominated by local vendors. The only foreigners are Nepal and Iran. Turkey made its presence through a troupe which presented sufi dance of whirling dervish.

To many visitors, it was a national expo. The stall at the expo are of regional hotels, tour operators, outfits, jewelry, Swati crafts, WWF, cosmetics, dentistry, hair club, cutleries, Hunza gems and stones and Mutani embroidery.