German tourist Sarah poses in front of an old building in Peshawar.
PHOTOS: EXPRESS
Over the past two weeks, she has travelled more than 4,500km over the last two weeks, following the Indus River across Sindh and Punjab, and then exploring Gilgit-Baltistan and now, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
“I feel very blessed that I got to visit Pakistan again,” said Sarah. “I’ve enjoyed my sojourns in Karachi, Thatta, Multan, Lahore, Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan. I loved my trips to the Makli necropolis, the remains of Mohenjo Daro, Uch Sharif, the Shalimar Gardens, Wazir Khan Mosque, Rohtas Fort, Nanga Parbat and Rakaposhi… especially now, with blossoms in trees everywhere I go.”
“And no matter where I went, every city and town I stayed in, I found locals to be extremely friendly and welcoming,” added the German national, who works as project manager for several Berlin-based NGOs. “I’ve been to many places… from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Mexico, to Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Turkey, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Kenya… but I have experienced the most hospitality in Pakistan.”
This, Sarah stressed, is what made her first trip to Pakistan most memorable and drew her to the country a second time. “Pakistan is truly the world’s best kept secret for international tourists. It deserves to be discovered by more people around the world.”
Many of her friends and colleagues were apprehensive when she shared with them her desire to visit Pakistan, said Sarah. “They were rather surprised and concerned about my safety and whether Pakistan would have the infrastructure for tourism.”
“But I had read several books on Pakistan’s history and culture, and followed several tourist groups and travellers on Facebook and Instagram… most of the social media posts about Pakistan I came across were full of appreciation and enthusiasm for the country,” she said. “The posts by Germany’s [now former] ambassador to Pakistan Martin Kobler in particular were very inspiring.”
“And so, I was emboldened to accept the challenge and see Pakistan with my own eyes. I have not been disappointed.”
However, all did not go smoothly, at least initially, when Sarah decided to visit Pakistan again. “The before I was scheduled to travel, tensions between Pakistan and India flared up and I learnt that the former’s airspace was closed,” she said. “But I’m glad the airspace was opened at the last minute and I could come here once more.”
Now, in the last leg of her journey, Sarah is in Peshawar with plans to explore more of K-P. Of the sights and attractions she’s visited in the province’s capital, she was all praise for the Peshawar Museum, the Mahabbat Khan Mosque and the caravanserai overlooking it, the Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Sethi Street and House, the Kabul Gate, the city’s clock tower and the Saddar Bazaar.
“I absolutely adore Peshawar’s rich cultural heritage, tradition of skillful craftsmanship and vibrant atmosphere. I was positively surprised by the city’s cleanliness as well,” she said. “My only regret is that I couldn’t try all of the delicious food available in the city. Everyone I talked to about Peshawar spoke so highly about its cuisine.”
Sarah criticised the image most foreign media has painted of Peshawar. “Everyone seems to portray it as a dangerous city where women aren’t allowed out on the street unless they are covered from head to toe. Surprisingly, even some Pakistanis I met seemed to think so,” she said. “[But] I was happy to see so many families, with women dressed in all sorts of clothing, out in the streets and the shops, not to mention so many couples enjoying ice cream on warm spring evenings.”
She added that she feels there is “so much more in K-P to interest international tourists”. “Some places [in the province] may still be unsafe, but I think more aids for tourists, like guidebooks, information centres and guided tours could be helpful.”
While appreciating Pakistan governments’ efforts to promote tourism, she also pointed out some challenges tourists still encounter, like when trying to withdraw money from ATMs even in major cities like Lahore and Islamabad.
That said, Sarah still appeared incredibly satisfied with her trip. “I had the most wonderful encounters with Pakistanis of all ages from all regions,” she said. “I really hope and wish that they find peace and prosperity and that the country preserves its cultural and natural uniqueness.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2019.
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