Diplomats enjoy Chakwal tour

Caravan takes foreign guests sightseeing around historic and cultural sites

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad and Chakwal Chambers of Commerce and Industry organised a cultural caravan of foreign diplomats to the district Chakwal to show them the tourism potential of the area.

Diplomats from Azerbaijan, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, Kenya, Iran, Norway, Nepal, the Philippines and Uzbekistan were part of the cultural caravan. Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) former President, Zafar Bakhtawari and UBG Pakistan Secretary General also accompanied the caravan.

The caravan visited the University of Chakwal where Vice Chancellor, Dr Muhammad Bilal Khan and Dr Samia Anwar of the Department of Archaeology warmly welcomed them. They briefed the foreign diplomats about the historical and archaeological sites of Chakwal that attract tourists worldwide.

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The caravan also visited the Katas Raj Temples, which hold immense historical and religious significance. Dr Muhammad Bilal Khan and Dr Samia Anwar briefed the caravan about the history of the Katas Raj Temples, which are dedicated to Lord Shiva, surrounded by a beautiful pond and date back to the 6th century.

The caravan was informed that these temples are one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites in Pakistan and members of the Hindu community from Pakistan and abroad visit this place every year as part of their spiritual journey.

The Group Leader of the Chakwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Qazi Muhammad Akbar, organised a reception in honour of the cultural caravan at Kallar Kahar, which is another amazing tourist site in the area. Another member of the Chakwal Chamber of Commerce, Mian Khawar Saleem, hosted a lunch in honour of the cultural caravan.

Speaking on the occasion, ICCI President Ahsan Bakhtawari, said that the ICCI had taken a delegation of foreign diplomats to Skardu last year, and this cultural caravan in collaboration with the Chakwal Chamber of Commerce is a part of showing the foreign diplomats the wonderful tourist places of Chakwal to promote tourism in the area.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st 2024.