US Travel Advisory acknowledges ‘improved security’ in Pakistan

Foreign Office welcomes US move as ‘a step in the right direction’

KARACHI: The US State Department has acknowledged improvement in Pakistan’s security environment in its latest Travel Advisory which Islamabad has welcomed as “a step in the right direction”.

“Pakistan’s security environment has improved since 2014 when Pakistani security forces undertook concerted counter terrorist and counter militant operations,” reads the Travel Advisory issued by the US State Department on Jan 31, 2020.

“There are greater security resources and infrastructure in the major cities, particularly Islamabad, and security forces in these areas may be more readily able to respond to an emergency compared to other areas of the country. While threats still exist, terrorist attacks are rare in Islamabad,” it adds.

Pakistan welcomes relaxed travel advisory for Britons

“Pakistan has noted the update in the US Travel Advisory, which has acknowledged that Pakistan’s security environment has improved. This is a step in the right direction,” the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement on Friday.

“Pakistan has made resolute efforts to enhance security throughout the country. Significant improvement in the security environment has led the United Nations to re-designate Islamabad as a family station for its personnel,” Aisha Farooqui said.

“Recently, the United Kingdom, while acknowledging the measures taken by Pakistan, has revised its Travel Advisory which is a welcome development. The positive decisions by Portugal and Norway with regard to their Travel Advisories for Pakistan also reflect the confidence of these European governments in Pakistan’s security environment,” she added.

US assures Pakistan of softening travel advisory

Pakistan has also been declared as one of the “Best Holiday Destinations for 2020” by an award-winning travel magazine ‘Conde Nast Traveller.’

“With Pakistan’s liberal visa regime and conducive environment for tourism, we are confident that larger number of tourists from all over the world would be travelling to Pakistan,” the spokesperson said. “People of Pakistan are ready to welcome foreign tourists in the country.”

She further said that the improved security situation also offers opportunities for enhanced economic activity and foreign direct investment in Pakistan.