Tajikistan for restoring Karachi's past glory

Envoy stresses importance of attracting tourists, boosting exports

KARACHI:

Highlighting the glorious history of Karachi which was once a peaceful and secure city for foreign tourists in the 1980s and 1990s, Tajikistan Ambassador Sharifzoda Yusuf stressed the need for fully restoring the former glory of Karachi to attract tourists from Tajikistan as well as Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russia.

Exchanging views at a meeting during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), he said the influx of tourists from Tajikistan, along with other countries in the region, was a significant source of revenue in the 1990s with Tajik tourists spending an estimated $10 million to $15 million in Karachi.

While highlighting his experience in Karachi in 1992, when he attended a course at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), the ambassador recalled the time when the city was thriving. He especially mentioned Saddar as a bustling market, where commercial activity continued until the early morning hours, and said the entire city had no security issues at all.

"At that point in time, Karachi had become a magnet for tourists from Central Asia, including Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russia. In the 90s, direct flights from these countries to Karachi were frequent, bringing visitors who spent millions on Karachi's high-quality textiles, leather goods and other products," he added.

The envoy stated that relations between Tajikistan and Pakistan had always been marked by brotherhood and the deep cultural and historical connections between them were reflected in the shared sites of significance, including the mausoleums of Sufi saints in Karachi and the Makli Graveyard in Badin, where many Tajik ancestors had been laid to rest.

He was of the view that Pakistan had much to offer Tajikistan and its neighbours, including world-class textile goods, seafood and other high-quality products.

"Until 2003, 85% of Tajiks wore Pakistan-made clothing and shoes," he said, while stressing the need for restoring trade between the two countries.

He particularly cited Pakistan's competitive edge in seafood including lobsters, king prawns and tiger prawns and stated that these could be exported to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

The ambassador encouraged investors to explore those markets, which were highly receptive to quality Pakistani products.