Officals condoles demise

SRINAGAR: Former Director General Tourism from Mohammad Ashraf Batkoo, who served the Tourism Department from 200-2003 passed away on Tuesday.
The Department of Tourism has condoled the demise of former Director General, Batkoo
Soon after hearing of Batkoo’s demise, a condolence meeting was convened at the Directorate of Tourism here this morning in which the speakers recalled the contribution rendered by late Batkoo in the development of Tourism in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
The condolence meeting was chaired by Secretary, Tourism, Culture, Youth Services & Sports, Sarmad Hafeez.
Addressing the meeting, Hafeez said late Batkoo was an encyclopaedia of Kashmir tourism whose contribution in its growth and development is unparalleled. He said he had the passion of promoting Kashmir tourism to such an extent that he did it even after his retirement through his newspaper columns and books.
“He popularised Adventure tourism in Jammu & Kashmir in a big way and his contribution in getting Ladakh on the tourist map would always immortalise Batkoo sahib”, the Tourism Secretary said in his address in the condolence meeting.
Hafeez prayed for peace to the departed soul of Mr. Batkoo and conveyed his sympathies with the bereaved family.
Director, Tourism, Kashmir, Nisar Ahmad Wani in his address said with his vast experience in tourism, trekking and adventure sports, Batkoo made a phenomenal contribution to J&K’s tourism which would be remembered by one and all. He also prayed for peace to the departed soul.
The condolence meeting was attended by all the senior officers and staff of the Tourism Department.
Similar condolence meetings were held at the offices of Tourism Department at New Delhi and Jammu.
Meanwhile, a condolence meeting was held today in the Directorate of Tourism, Jammu, under the chairmanship of Director Tourism, R.K. Katoch in which the officers/officials condoled the sudden and untimely demise of Batkoo, who served the Tourism Department as Director General Tourism from 2000 to 2003.
The Department placed on record his great contribution to the J&K Tourism Department.

KR Desk