HolidayWeekly

The Voice of Tourism in Pakistan

Ad example

Pakistan Tourism

Regional Tourism To Boost | First PIA Flight from Lahore Lands at Skardu

by Leave a Comment

GILGIT: First-ever direct flight from Lahore of the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airline (PIA) landed at the Skardu Airport here on Wednesday, April 07.

The PK-8453 flight took off from the Allama Iqbal International Airport on Wednesday morning with 153 passengers on board and landed at the Skardu Airport after one hour and 15 minutes.

The PIA officials received and presented bouquets of flowers to the passengers at the airport.

Later, a cake-cutting ceremony was also held to celebrate the occasion.

Gilgit-Baltistan tourism minister Raja Nasir Ali Khan said the first PIA flight coming directly from Lahore also received a water cannon welcome upon landing at the Skardu Airport.

He said there would be two weekly flights on the Lahore-Skardu route, which would go a long way in boosting tourism in the region.

He thanked federal aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Pakistan International Airlines for the landmark achievement.

“I promise to take the tourism sector of Gilgit-Baltistan to new heights during my tenure as tourism minister,” he promised.

The tourism minister said flights between Lahore and Skardu would open a new travel corridor for domestic and international tourists.

He said he was looking forward to the flight’s sustainable operation as this would not only promote tourism but also add up to the revenue of the national flag carrier.

PIA CEO Arshad Malik said that the new flight operations would promote tourism in the country.

Tourism Expert & Professional | Aftab Rana Appointed As MD PTDC

by Leave a Comment

ISLAMABAD: Mr. Aftab-ur-Rehman Rana, the founder President of Sustainable Tourism Foundation Pakistan and former Director-General of Adventure Foundation Pakistan, has been appointed as the Managing Director of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) on the honorary basis with immediate effect, as per the official notification issued by the Cabinet Division, Government of Pakistan. His appointment was approved in the meeting of the Federal Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan on 1st April 2021.

His appointment as the Managing Director of PTDC will provide an opportunity to improve the coordination among the tourism industry stakeholders and to bridge the gap between the public and private sector for the sustainable growth of the tourism industry and build the image of Pakistan as a tourism destination across the world.

Mr. Rana is s seasoned tourism professional having more than 35 years of experience in the tourism industry. He is a well-known figure in the tourism industry especially due to his pioneering efforts for the promotion of sustainable tourism, responsible tourism, ecotourism, community-based tourism, youth tourism, and heritage tourism in Pakistan. He has extensively traveled throughout the country and abroad and has vast experience in tourism policy formulation, product development, destination development, tourism human resource development, tourism planning, marketing, and promotion. Mr. Rana is an active contributor to his professional vision at various national and international forums of the tourism industry.

Mr. Rana has worked with public, private, and non-governmental sectors and has done extensive work for the formulation of provincial tourism policies and national tourism strategy for Pakistan. He has also worked as a tourism development consultant with USAID, Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and other international development organizations on the projects of tourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Baluchistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

He is also an acclaimed tourism educator and trainer and is associated with the National Institute of Administration at Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta as visiting faculty member. He has also conducted many pieces of training courses for tourism professionals and hospitality staff members in different parts of Pakistan and has developed the skills of thousands of works to meet the ever-growing demand for a trained workforce in Pakistan. He has also been a member of the National Curriculum Committee of the Higher Education Commission on Tourism and Hospitality and a member of the Board of Studies of Tourism Facility of Hazara University, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He has also contributed three travel guide books on Kaghan Valley, Swat Valley, and Chitral Valley. He writes regularly on tourist places of Pakistan and about issues of the tourism industry. His articles have been published in leading newspapers and tourism magazines.

His efforts for the promotion of tourism have been acknowledged internationally and nationally and he has received a number of awards including the Commonwealth Asia Award for Excellence, the Trainer of The Year Award from the South Asia Tourism Human Resource Development Project (SATHRDP), Government of Pakistan’s Better Pakistan-2010 Excellence Award in the field of Tourism Promotion, Pride of Mountains Award for the promotion of Sustainable Tourism and Excellence Award in Nature Conservation and Youth Tourism by AFP. He is also a Fellow of Leadership for Environment and Development.

Restoration & Rehabilitation | Work in Progress on Many Historic Sites in Punjab

by Leave a Comment

LAHORE: The Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) is carrying out rehabilitation and reconstruction of various religious and historic sites, including the gurdwaras at Rohri Sahab, Sacha Suda, and Nankana, under the Punjab Tourism for Economic Growth Project (PTEGP).

This was informed during a meeting held to review the current progress on religious tourism promotion. Secretary Tourism Ehsan Bhutta presided over the session. Additional Secretary Tourism, Director Auqaf, DS Religious Affairs department, DD ETPB, Director WCLA, Senior Chief Planning & Development Board, Director Archeology, representatives of PTEGP, and other officials concerned were all present on the occasion.

The meeting was informed that the PTEGP had commenced with on-site management surveys of 11 sites including Katas Raj, Taxila Museum, Bibi Jawindi Uch, Darbar Khwaja Ghulam Farid, Qila Kohna, and Qasim Bagh. It was also rehabilitating six link roads, each measuring 34 kilometers, at a cost of PKR 833 million.

Director WCLA stated that the authority had commenced with the rehabilitation of a mosque in Lahore on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis. Director Archaeology elaborated efforts in Taxila and Buddhist areas. DS Minorities department apprised the meeting about Mariamabad road reconstruction. Deputy Director ETPB intimated the restoration of four Gurdawaras (Mata Kaue Sahib, Tilla Joggian, Bhai Karam Singh, and Choa Dahib in Jhelum) was underway in collaboration with a US-based NGO.

He added that the department was in the process of finalizing agreements with the TDCP for the rehabilitation of Bradlaugh Hall in Lahore and the promotion of domestic Tourism at Kartarpur.

In response, Mr. Bhutta lauded the efforts of the officials concerned and directed them to complete the projects within the agreed timeline. He also asked the departments to adhere to quality and transparency standards while completing the above-mentioned initiatives.

World’s Largest Outbound | Pakistan-China Tourism Can Fly High

by Leave a Comment

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan launched its first-ever tourism TV channel “Discover Pakistan” on Mar 22, marking a major step towards Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision to boost this fledgling sector as a growth engine.

Tourism is gaining weight in Pakistan’s economy. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in 2019, the tourism industry contributed 5.9% to Pakistan’s GDP, with 3.9 million jobs created.

The government is also elevating tourism higher on its agenda. A 12-member National Coordination Committee on Tourism has been initiated in the hopes of creating more job opportunities and injecting impetus into Pakistan’s economic development.

Pakistan is a fertile land blessed with rich natural endowments. Its incredible landscape, biological diversity, and historical sites provide a multiplicity of options for tourists from all over the world.

As the country is witnessing an unprecedented tourism boost, more tourists from the international community, especially China, are to be unlocked provided the right formula, China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Friday.

Pakistan-China exchanges in the tourism industry are in their infancy. Pakistan became a destination country for Chinese group tourists since 2003. In 2019, 80,000 Chinese people chose Pakistan as their travel destination, an increase of 60% than that in 2015. Meanwhile, there were 155 million outbound tourists from China in 2019, representing a huge gap.

In an interview with Yang Jinsong, Director of the Institute of International Studies at China Tourism Academy (CTA), he recommended more publicity about Pakistan’s tourist industry. Amid the epidemic, many countries are using online platforms to accumulate strength for the tourism industry.

In this regard, introducing the eye-catching scenery in Pakistan through short videos will be a good step forward in an era of social media.

Tourist Information Desk | KP-CTA Set Up At Saidu Sharif Airport

by Leave a Comment

PESHAWAR: The tourist information desk set up by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism (KPCTA) at the Saidu Sharif Airport was inaugurated on Friday to facilitate tourists during their visit to the Swat valley or elsewhere in Malakand Division.

Chief Minister Mahmood Khan inaugurated the tourist information desk at the Saidu Sharif Airport.

Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Federal Minister for Communications Murad Saeed, Chief Executive Officer PIA Arshad Malik, Commissioner Malakand Division Zaheerul Islam, Deputy Commissioner Swat Junaid Khan, and officials of the Tourism Department accompanied the chief minister.

The KPCTA displayed brochures, banners, posters, booklets, and pamphlets about the scenic spots, roads leading to the tourist destinations, hotels, hospitals, heritage sites, and restaurants so the tourists and visitors could obtain required information at the tourist desk before departing to a specific tourist attraction in Swat and Malakand.

The Saidu Sharif Airport was reopened after 17 years, which would open up the entire Malakand Division especially Swat valley for tourism, trade, and investment.

Commercial flights would help generate job opportunities for thousands of people besides bolstering tourism in the area.

Tourism Beijing | Revenue Plunges 53% in 2020

by Leave a Comment

BEIJING: Beijing’s total revenue from tourism decreased by over 53% in 2020 for a staggering loss of $50 billion, according to data presented by TradingPlatforms.com.

China has long moved on from its isolationist policies and has long encouraged the mainland as a travel destination for tourists. Revenue from China’s tourism sector grew at a strong 13.8% CAGR from 2010-2019 almost $880 billion. In 2019, China was the fourth most visited country by foreign tourists with 65.7 million arrivals for the year.

Beijing is one of the leading tourist destinations in China and the city has been enjoying the growth of the tourism sector until the pandemic of 2020 hit. From 2016-2019 Beijing’s tourism revenue experienced a 5.53% CAGR, rising to a value of ¥622.7 billion in 2019. However, COVID-19 shut borders around the world, crippling global mobility and disrupting the momentum built up by Beijing’s tourism industry. Beijing’s revenue from tourism dropped over 53% in 2020 to just over ¥291.

Beijing suffered a staggering loss in revenue specifically in inbound tourism where revenue dropped from $5.16 billion in 2019 to just $480 million in 2020.

China felt the effects of COVID-19 before much of the rest of the world did. A clear example of this is in the drop in weekly Airbnb bookings from the period between January 5 to March 7 when the Coronavirus was just news to the rest of the world of what was happening in various parts of China. Beijing experienced a 96% drop in weekly AirBnB bookings compared to just 46% in Seoul and 29% in Tokyo in this time period.

The number of domestic tourists is estimated to have dropped by as much as 62% in the first half of 2020 compared to the year prior with revenues dropping by as much as 77%. By the end of the year, China had experienced a 43% drop in domestic tourists and a 52% drop in revenue from domestic tourism.

In 2019, the absolute economic contribution of tourism in China was estimated at $1.67T. This fell sharply to just $745.5 billion in 2020, a decrease of more than 55% but still the largest in Asia and the second-largest overall after the US. However, projections have the figure bouncing back up by over 40.5% in 2021 to $1.04 trillion. The figure is projected to surpass pre-pandemic levels for the first time in 2023 when the absolute economic contribution of tourism is projected to be at $1.75 trillion.

Despite the turmoil of 2020, China’s absolute economic contribution from tourism is projected to have an impressive CAGR of 20.75% from 2021-2025, reaching more than $2.67 trillion by the end of the forecast period.

A Firm with Firm Approach | Tourism Consultancy ‘TravelinPk’ Launched

by Leave a Comment

KARACHI: TravelinPK, a tourism consultancy, and facilitation company launched here in Karachi with a bang among a large number of members of the travel fraternity, friends, and media.

A partnership of nine people who have been working together for over a year as FPCCI’s Central Committee of Tourism Development under Convener Shanaz Ramzi, the office bearers of the organization are president – Shanaz Ramzi; SVP – Syed Baqar Mahdi, and VPS — Zubair Baweja and Nasira Faiz. The other partners are Anadil Khan, Almas Tariq, Amena Khan, Rabeea Minai, and Fareeda Nishtar. Friends of TravelinPK who are working closely with the partners are Ch Faisal Mahmood, Jehanzeb Salim, Atiq ur Rehman, Mehrin Ansari, Shumaila Hadi, and Madiha Fatima.

The event kick-started with VP Nasira Faiz hosting the show and inviting a young student, Mohammed Ali, for tilawat, followed by the national anthem. President Shanaz Ramzi then welcomed all and gave an introduction to the company. She said “TravelinPK is unique in more ways than one. Its partners – and there are many – all bring varied and rich experiences of a sector that we feel needs to be taken head-on in a holistic fashion. Not only are the partners experienced, resourceful, and connected, but they are also all avid travelers with a wealth of knowledge of how things can be improved in the country. From hoteliers, to travel agents to entrepreneurs we have the lot. And that’s not all – beyond our very active partners we have very active friends of TravelinPK who have been part of our committee since last year and who are an integral part of our company even today, even if they have no financial stakes involved for the time being.”

After her introduction, she showed a visual presentation of all the services that TravelinPK would provide to its clients as well as to other travel-related businesses so as to up their act and facilitate them in providing a pleasurable experience to their clients. A beautiful video was also shown of all that Pakistan has to offer in terms of sights, culture, ethnicities, cuisine, crafts, heritage, and much more.

All partners were then introduced and invited to the stage. MPA Dr. Imran Ali Shah was also invited to air his views and he commended the launch of a much-needed facility especially keeping in mind that the prime minister was also focusing on tourism development. Mr. Amin WaliMohammed, Managing Director, Gerry’s Pvt. Ltd was then invited on the stage to sign an MOU with TravelinPK. He was followed by Khurram Zafar, CEO Majestic Lounge. Other organizations that are also already on board are Legends, Super Savari, Polanis, and Daewoo.

Mr. Wali Mohammed also spoke on the occasion and wished the company the best for the future. After a Vote of Thanks, high tea was served.

Honoring Women Icons | Second LUX HUM Women Leaders Award Held

by Leave a Comment

ISLAMABAD: The second edition of HUM Women Leaders Award successfully concluded on 9th March at the Aiwan-e-Sadar celebrating eleven national and international women icons and as per HUM tradition, one dynamic man for their contributions and achievements in the fields of diplomacy, social work, education, healthcare, human rights, journalism and women’s rights. The awards ceremony was graced by the chief guest, President of Pakistan, His Excellency Dr. Arif Alvi, dignitaries and crème de la crème of the entertainment industry of Pakistan.

After the national anthem the event kicked-off with a poetic recitation by Yousuf Bashir. Hareem Farooq and Sanam Saeed, the hosts for the evening invited Sultana Siddiqui, President of HUM Network Limited to address the audience. Siddiqui stated, “It has been my lifelong struggle to see that women are given their due importance in all fields. There should be no glass ceilings, no chains of traditions and customs to stop their flight. In today’s economy, it is imperative that women be given an equal chance to prosper. We cannot have a progressive economy with women shut indoors.”

The Chief Guest of the event, Dr. Arif Alvi President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan also addressed the gathering.

The awards ceremony then began with the first award being presented to Ayesha Chundrigar, a humanistic psychotherapist and journalist who single-handedly started the first and largest animal rescue organization in Pakistan and has rescued and rehabilitated more than 7,000 animals so far. In almost eight years, the Ayesha Chundrigar Foundation has become the leading Animal Rescue Service & Sanctuary in Pakistan, paving the way for animal rights to become a norm in society. The award was presented by Nabila Masood and Shafqat Mehmud.

The second award of the evening was presented to Tabassum Adnan the first woman in Pakhtun history to have founded an all-women jirga, Khwendo Jirga, which means Sisters’ Council, a milestone for the women of Swat. She was the first to be invited to the District Resolution Council paving the path for local women to participate in the decision-making process. In 2015, The US State Department conferred on her the International Women of Courage Award while in 2016 Tabassum Adnan was presented the Nelson Mandela – Graça Machel Innovation Award in the Individual Activist Category. The award was presented by Vaneeza Ahmed and Amir Ibrahim, CEO of Jazz.

The next award was presented to Ayesha Jalal, the insightful historian, and educationist whose exemplary research articles and books provide unique insights into the culture and history of the subcontinent. She received the Jean Mayer Global Citizenship Award in 2010 and was also the recipient of the Great Immigrants Award 2012 from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The Government of Pakistan awarded Ayesha Jalal the Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2009. As she could not be physically present at the event, an acceptance message was shown on video.

The next recipient was Pakistan’s ace cosmetologist and philanthropist Masarrat Misbah, who, defying all odds revolutionized the beauty salon industry in the country. In 2003 she conceptualized Depilex Smile again Foundation to help burn victims. Her organization helped many victims receive the best available medical treatment and psycho-social support. Additionally, these victims are rehabilitated through vocational training, small business setups, and job placements. Recipient of Pride of Performance in 2010 Misbah is also the first Pakistani woman to be recognized for her courage and commitment by the government of Italy. She received her award from Bushra Ansari and Dr. Ishrat Hussain who is the advisor to the prime minister.

The first segment of the awards was followed by a special performance by Qurat ul Ain Baloch and Umair Jaswal who enthralled the audiences with their mesmerizing voices.

The next awardee, Princess Sarvath Al Hassan, the first leader to establish a nonprofit education program that offered equal opportunities to every student in Jordan, presided over the Young Muslim Women’s Association and pioneered several initiatives such as establishing the Bunayat Center for Special Education in 1974, founding the Princess Sarvath Community College in 1980; launching a Sheltered Workshop in 1987 and setting up the National Center for Learning Difficulties in 1995. Princess Sarvath Al-Hassan also served as the Honorary Vice President of the Jordanian Red Crescent from 1994- 2004. An audio acceptance message by her was played on the occasion.

Up next was award recipient deputy superintendent of Police, Shahzadi Gulfam the first Pakistani woman police officer to receive the International Female Police Peacekeeper Award by the United Nations in 2011. In her career stretching for more than three decades, she has delivered brilliantly, both nationally and internationally. She was the first Pakistani female officer to be deployed in the UN Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina and has also served in Kosovo and Timor-Leste. The award was presented by Noman Ejaz and Fahmida Mirza.

Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces successful diplomat, profound academic, and seasoned politician who has set an example of woman empowerment with her illustrious career was the next award recipient. She has headed various ministries such as Foreign Affairs, Defense and Culture, and Heritage in Ecuador. Espinosa was the first female ambassador of Ecuador to the United Nations in New York and Geneva. The fourth woman in history to serve as the president of the United National General Assembly she has been regional director for South America for the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A video acceptance message was shown.

The only man awardee of the night was Malik Rafique Awan who has set a precedent that is both worthy of appreciation and emulation as all his five daughters have passed the Civil Superior Service exams and are serving their country with zeal they have inherited from their father. On the birth of his fifth daughter, Awan and his wife Khursheed Begum were ridiculed and they decided to put an end to gender discrimination from society. After a struggle of more than two decades, Mr. and Mrs. Awan set an example by raising strong and empowered girls. His eldest daughter, Laila Malik Sher is Deputy Commissioner Income Tax Department in Karachi; Shirin Malik Sher is serving as Director at the National Highway Authority Islamabad, Sassi Malik Sher is Deputy Executive, CEO Chaklala Cantt. Rawalpindi and Marvi Malik Sher have been appointed as Additional Assistant Commissioner Abbottabad. The youngest daughter Zoha Malik Sher has joined the Officers Management Group. Today the Awans’ daughters are a symbol of national pride. The award was presented by Bushra Ansari and Rafique Awan’s three daughters.

A power-packed performance by Strings followed after which the final round of awards began. The next award recipient was Hina Jilani. Her career has been instrumental in setting new standards for human rights in the country. She is currently serving as the president of the World Organization against Torture. Jilani has also been associated with The United Nations, The International Commission of Jurists, and The South Asians for Human Rights. She was awarded the American Bar Association Litigation Award in 1992, And Peace Prize in 2001 along with other notable awards throughout her journey. The award was presented by Duraid Qureshi.

Although the next award recipient was not there to receive her award in person, the international icon for education, Malala Yousafzai whose journey has pushed the global community to do more for child education, had sent Dr. Maliha Khan, Malala Fund Manager from the UK to receive the award on her behalf. The youngest Nobel Prize Laureate for her efforts to see that every girl completes 12 years of education, and who established the Malala Fund in 2013 along with her role model father, was presented the award by president HUM Network Sultana Siddiqui.

Abida Parveen the uncrowned empress of Sufi Music who is among the 500 Most Influential Muslim Artists in the world, was the next award recipient. Abida Parveen is the recipient of eight Pride of Performance Awards, the Sitar-e-Imtiaz, and Pakistan’s highest civilian honor, the Hilal-e-Imtiaz. The award was presented by the first lady, Ms. Samina Alvi.

The last award of the evening went out to Lt. General Nigar Johar, the first-ever female three-star general in the history of Pakistan and the first female Surgeon General of the Pakistan Army. Hailing from Panjpeer Village, in Swabi District, Nigar Johar was also the first female Commandant of any armed forces unit and the first female to have commanded the largest hospital of the Pakistan Army. An expert markswoman, she is the recipient of the Fatima Jinnah Gold medal, Tamgha e Imtiaz and Hilal e Imtiaz along with an honorary membership at the Royal College of Physicians (UK). The award was presented by President Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi.

HWLA aims to recognize and honor the contributions and achievements of iconic women from Pakistan and around the world who are change-makers in their respective fields and a symbol and source of hope, courage, determination, and inspiration for women across the globe. These iconic women are mentors and role models for girls who aspire to be achievers.

The awards ceremony will be televised on Pakistan Day on HUM globally. The second LUX HUM Women Leaders Award presented by LUX was powered by Tresemme. It may be noted that the special hand-crafted awards have been designed by ace sculptor Amin Gulgee.

Sports & Cultural Festival | Kicks Off in Gabin Jabba

by Leave a Comment

PESHAWAR: Secretary Tourism Department Abid Majid on Friday said that pragmatic steps were being taken to facilitate tourists during their visit to the scenic spots of the province.

“Gabin Jabba and Malam Jabba are the most attractive tourist destinations in Swat valley that is why domestic and foreign tourists are now even coming in chilling winter to enjoy the beauty of mini-Switzerland in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he told a function held in connection with inauguration of the three-day Sports and Cultural Festival in Gabin Jabba.

Officials of the Swat district administration, including Deputy Commissioner Junaid Khan, and Tourism Department were also present.

The secretary said that tourism was being promoted along modern lines to boost the sector and create employment opportunities for the local populace as well.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KP-CTA) under the aegis of Sports, Tourism, Archaeology, Culture, Museums and Youth Affairs Department and Swat district administration have jointly organized the spectacular extravaganza.

Earlier, the festival kicked off in the scenic tourist resort – Gabin Jabba – in Swat valley.

The festival featured cultural activities and sports competitions, including snow marathon race, snow cycling, snow judo, tug-of-war and archery on the first day of the gala.

A large number of visitors from across the country visited tourist information desk, handicrafts and food stalls while children enjoyed various games in the play land.

Famous singers and artistes, including Shahid Ali Khan, Khalid Malik, Humayun Khan, Moeez, Shahukat Mahmood, Almas Khan Khalil and others would also participate in the music shows to be organised during the event.

FC dance performance, rabab music, Pashto poetry recital sessions, magic and martial art shows and stage dramas are also part of the festival.

The documentary and video promo being filmed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Department on Swat valley and tourist spots elsewhere in the province would also be screened at the festival.

Pakistan Business Event | Pakistani Embassy and BelCCI Organise in Minsk

by Leave a Comment

BELARUS: The Embassy of Pakistan, Minsk in collaboration with Belarusian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BelCCI) organized a business interactive event at the BelCCI, which was attended by businessmen/representatives from more than 100 Belarusian companies, out of which 33 firms participated physically while another 72 businesspersons participated in the business event through Zoom on virtual basis.

Welcoming the participants of the business event titled “Meet the Ambassador”, the Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr. Vladimir Ulakhovich impressed upon the need to working closely for greater economic cooperation and assured his full cooperation.

On the occasion, Ambassador Sajjad Haider Khan made a detailed presentation on “Pakistan-Belarus Trade Prospects”, particularly highlighting Pakistan’s demographic advantages, political and economic strength and trade potential. Referring to the excellent political relations between the two countries, Ambassador Khan pointed out that the existing trade ties was much below the potential, which crossed US $ 52 million during 2020. He urged the participants to take advantage of the improving trade and investment environment in Pakistan in the context of the government’s initiatives and reform agenda.

  Mr. Nasir Hamid, Minister (Trade & Investment) at the Embassy of Pakistan, Moscow also briefed the participants over investment and tourism potential of Pakistan through video link. He highlighted the rich economic prospects offered by China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the benefits of enhanced regional connectivity for the firms investing in Pakistan as the project nears fruition.

Two short video documentaries on Pakistan were also screened for the participants after which detailed Q&A session was held.

The event was organized as part of the efforts of the Mission to galvanize the business community in the spirit of government’s initiative to add emphasis to economic diplomacy and facilitate the increase in national exports.