Regional connectivity: CARs ready to promote bilateral tourism

Meeting at PTDC discusses visa policies

RAWALPINDI: The members from Central Asian Republics (CARs) including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstand and Kazakhstan visiting Pakistan assured to extend full support to Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation in promoting this sector.

They were speaking at a luncheon reception given in their honour by PTDC at Flashman Hotel on Friday noon. The delegates were in the country on invitation of government of Pakistan from March 19-24 on invitation of National Security Division (NSD), Prime Minister Secretariat

Referring to the proposals given by the PTDC Managing Director Abdul Ghafoor, the delegates of the Central Asian Republics assured that their countries would form workable and joint groups with PTDC in order to take and enforce measures for flourishing tourism sector in Pakistan.



The delegates said they, after holding consultations with their respective governments, would ink accord with PTDC. The entire process of working jointly with PTDC would be started in near future as they stated.

The Uzbekistan delegate in his remarks said that his country has already started flights between Lahore and Tashkent.

Kyrgyzstan’s Baidoletov Nuradit viewed that Pakistan is a beautiful country which possess variety of indigenous culture, high mountains, valleys, rivers, scenic beauty convincing the foreign people to visit this country.

The PTDC on the occasion also arranged a cultural show comprising dance performances and folk music. PTDC

Ghafoor said that this visit of delegation will further strengthen the brotherly relations between Pakistan and CARs. Pakistan is blessed with countless tourism opportunities available for all kind of tourists.

There might be a few negative stories about Pakistan but the situation absolutely contrary and Pakistan is completely safe and secure tourism destination for tourists from all over the world. We have opened our doors for the tourists from around the world to come and enjoy our hospitality, see and believe that we have the most of nature blessed treasures spread all over Pakistan from Khunjerab to Karachi, that are deserts or beaches, mountains or valleys, culture or history, you just name it and we have it.



He added that Visa on Arrival Facility will be introduced for group tourists for more countries and invest CARs. To foster the process, cooperation among national tourism agencies, as well as private sector companies and provincial tourism organisations be encouraged. He recommended that fully sponsored scholarship opportunities should be offered to youth in undergraduate and graduate degree in tourism and hospitality and Central Asian Countries help Pakistan in removal of negative travel advisories issued by Western Media. Development of Road Link and operation of direct flights by National Airlines between Pakistan and CARs is also essential for increasing tourist flow.

Uzbek delegation is headed by Former Vice Prime Minister and Chairman of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry Ikramov Adham Ilhamovich. Kyrgyz delegation lead by Deputy Director, National Institute of Strategic Studies Baidoletov Nuradil Esenbekovich.Georgiy Dubovtsev is the Head of Kazakhstan delegation who is Deputy Minister for Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies. Tajikistan delegation is led by Dr Khudaberdi Kholiqnazar, State Minister Level for Center for Strategic Studies whereas Merdan Bayramdurdyyev, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy is heading the delegation of Turkmenistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2018.