Tag: pakistan tourism

  • As peak tourist season approaches, ‘Safe Tourist Programme’ approved for Murree

    As peak tourist season approaches, ‘Safe Tourist Programme’ approved for Murree

    Before the commencement of the winter tourism season in Murree and nearby galiyaat in the coming month, a comprehensive tourist programme has been approved to guarantee the safety of visiting families, reports Express Tribune.

    Under the programme, arrangements have been made for security, checking of vehicles and 24-hour clearing of snow in the district where standard “Tourism Services Rules” will also be regulated.

    During the snowy season, traffic police will not permit more than the designated number of vehicles to enter Murree and beyond, 17 miles of the Toll Plaza, no vehicle will be permitted to enter the district regardless of the number that the district administration and traffic police officers may decide.

    There are 215 small and large hotels in Murree overall, according to the report of the Rawalpindi deputy commissioner, and over 150 locals rent out their homes and common places. According to the tourism standard policy, there are a total of 24,239 tourist rooms available in hotels and guesthouses in Murree.

    Additionally, a uniformed civil defence force will be stationed in Murree to safeguard visitors from confrontations throughout the winter months.

    The local youth-led civil defence team will also be equipped with walkie-talkies and batons.
    The members of this force will be spread out in the city’s major markets in various shifts. 15 volunteers from civil defence will make up the force.

    A total of 50 more traffic wardens will be dispatched to Murree to manage the city’s traffic for the entire season.
    Rent for both heated and non heated hotel rooms will be pre-set. The additional deputy commissioner for Murree will keep an eye on hotel rents during the peak season.

    Food prices will be fixed in markets, and there will be distinct prices for each sort of entertainment. These prices and fees will be prominently displayed on banners with large prints.

    The installation of a price list will be required at all venues for entertainment, including lodging and food stands.

    Earlier this year in January, a traffic jam in Murree turned deadly after 23 people, including children, were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning as they waited in their cars with engines running.

  • ‘Foreigners will come to Skardu’:PM Khan inaugurates international airport

    ‘Foreigners will come to Skardu’:PM Khan inaugurates international airport

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan said that the inauguration of Skardu International Airport would benefit tourism in Pakistan and foreigners would come to this area to find jobs.

    During a day-long visit to the region on Thursday, PM Khan inaugurated the Skardu International Airport and Jaglot-Skardu road.

    He predicted that tourists, including overseas Pakistanis and domestic tourists, would arrive in large numbers after the upgrade to the airport as well as the road.

    “We can make at least $30-$40 billion from tourism just in Gilgit Baltistan,” PM claimed.

    Explaining his vision, PM said that “no country can truly develop until it elevates its poor and improves its backward and neglected areas”.

    “It is my desire that by the time our five years are complete, the life in backward areas is better and the lives of people below the poverty line are improved,”he added.

    The airport in Skardu was previously only operational for domestic flights. However, its status was elevated on December 2 when it began welcoming international flights.

    A spokesperson for the National Highway Authority (NHA) said that the 167-kilometre Jaglot-Skardu road is the “main strategic road” that connects GB with the Karakoram Highway at Jaglot.

  • Nasa Earth releases satellite images of Hingol National Park

    Nasa Earth releases satellite images of Hingol National Park

    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has shared satellite images of the Hingol National Park, located 120 miles from Karachi. The image was acquired in February this year.

    Read more – NASA shares picture of snow-covered Himalayan ranges from space

    Nasa Earth observatory describes Hingol Park with its “rocky terrain, mountain caves, and beautiful beaches” as “one of the natural wonders of Pakistan”.

    Hingol spans around 6,200 square kilometres (2,400 square miles) across three districts of the Balochistan Province: Lasbela, Awaran, and Gwadar,.

    The park is named after the Hingol River, which flows through this dry region year-round and is the longest in Balochistan. Before emptying into the Arabian Sea, the Hingol flows into an estuary that supports threatened fish, birds, and crocodiles. It is part of the largest national park for the protection of endangered species in the country. The park is also home to wild Sindh Ibex, Balochistan Urial, and Chinkara Gazelle.

    Located approximately 200 kilometers (120 miles) northwest of Karachi, Hingol National Park features several distinct ecosystems. In the north, it includes an arid subtropical forest, while dry, mountainous terrain covers the western portion.

    In the east, the park is renowned for a group of mud volcanoes that spew methane and mud instead of lava. Along the coast, Hingol includes caves, beaches, and a marine ecological zone that is home to dolphins, sea turtles, and mangroves. The water body in the image above is an ephemeral lake near Sapat Beach.

    The park also holds a significance amount for Hindu community because of the Hinglaj Mata Mandar located there.

  • Daren Sammy spotted enjoying ‘Pakistan’s beauty’ in Swat

    Daren Sammy spotted enjoying ‘Pakistan’s beauty’ in Swat

    After playing tape-ball cricket with fans on the streets of Lahore, West Indian cricketer Daren Sammy was spotted soaking in the snow-capped peaks of Swat and Northern Pakistan.

    Sharing a picture of himself in the mountains, the Peshawar Zalmi coach expressed his gratitude towards exploring Pakistan as a tourist.

    “I was disappointed that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) got postponed but I’m super grateful I got to discover the beauty of Pakistan outside of cricket,” said Sammy.

    Meanwhile, Kamran Akmal also shared a video of Sammy and himself enjoying his the first ever Zip Line experience on Twitter, he wrote: “First ever Zip line Experience #MalamJabba and it was just great…MaShaAllah Pakistan is so beautiful.”

    “Thanks @PeshawarZalmi for arranging a family trip to MalamJabba it’s been a beautiful trip.Thanks to Local management for your hospitality Pakistan Flag of Pakistan Zindabad,” he added.

    PSL’s sixth edition — which started on February 20 — was postponed on March 4 due to rising COVID-19 cases among players and officials involved in the tournament.

    While several foreign players departed for their respective countries after the tournament was suspended, Hashim Amla and Sammy had prolonged their stay in the country due to some professional commitments.

    During their tour of Pakistan’s norther areas, Amla, Sammy, Kamran Akmal and other players from the Peshawar Zalmi were also spotted socialising with fans.

  • Lahore among ‘places to love in 2021’

    Lahore among ‘places to love in 2021’

    Lahore has been listed among the world’s most-loved cities by the New York Times.

    The New York Times recently published a piece in which the publication asked people about the places that delighted or comforted them in 2020. While it received more than 2000 suggestions, only 52 of them got the chance to be featured in the publication’s article. According to the American daily, Lahore is among the most-loved cities for its food, culture, and historical architecture.

    “Especially in winter, this city nourishes you. It opens its arms to you, then feeds you and wraps you in a hug,” wrote the author while expressing the beauty of the city.

    Lahoris are admired for their hospitality and the city is loved for its rich historical architecture.

    Other tourist spots on the list include Andros of Greece, Lebanon’s Beirut, Romania, Siberia, Jordan’s Wadi Rum and Kaliya Dhrow, India.

    It is pertinent to add there that even Turkish actor Engin Altan Düzyatan couldn’t resist saying “Lahore, Lahore hai” during his visit to the city.

  • PM Khan shares breathtaking pictures of Skardu with photo credits

    PM Khan shares breathtaking pictures of Skardu with photo credits

    Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday posted some beautiful pictures of  Skardu, Gilgit Baltistan on his Twitter account but this time the photographer has been credited for his work.

    “I have been sent more pictures,” he wrote on Twitter. “This time from around Skardu after my last tweet with pictures from GB.”

    The photographer Abrar Khawja also took to social media to express his joy over his work being shown to the world.

    “My passion for photography has delivered results today,” wrote Abrar, sharing the premier’s tweet. “My beautiful Pakistan, captured through my lens, is being shown to the whole world by my own prime minister.”

    Earlier, the PM’s post showing Gilgit Baltistan’s beauty stirred controversy when the photographer alleged that his watermark had been removed from the pictures. 

    A day later, however, Asmar tweeted that the PM Office had apologized for the mistake.

  • British vlogger loves Pakistani food, people, doesn’t want to leave

    British vlogger Jay Palfrey is in Pakistan these days and he is absolutely in love with the country, its people and the food. 

     During his visit, he visited various beautiful northern areas of the country including Skardu, Hunza, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

    He shared many pictures on his social media accounts. Taking to Instagram, he expressed, I used to run to chase my dreams, now I’m living them, cannot begin to tell you how HAPPY I am to be exploring the raw beauty of Hunza.”

    Jay has been posting videos on his YouTube channel for a year now and earlier he had revealed that he has converted to Islam. 

    He also visited Lahore and Islamabad and wore the shalwar kameez to blend in with the Pakistani culture. 

    He has documented his trip in his vlog titled Pakistan, The Land of Wonder.

  • Historical British-era tunnel restored and reopened in Ayubia

    Historical British-era tunnel restored and reopened in Ayubia

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change, Malik Amin Aslam, on Thursday, reopened a 129-year old historical ‘Motto Tunnel’ at Ayubia National Park.

    Read more – Sindh Govt comes under fire for ‘painting ancient archaeological sites white’

    The tunnel has been reopened for tourists after almost 20 years. Restoration work on it has been done by the Ministry of Climate Change in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife.

    According to a press release, Aslam while inaugurating the tunnel said that unsustainable and exploitative tourism practices in various parts of the country, particularly in biodiversity-rich and environmentally-sensitive areas, over last several years have badly harmed local fragile ecosystems that house wildlife species and their habitats.

    The special assistant said: “Given the realisation, the incumbent government is taking all-out measures to usher in sustainable models of eco-tourism in consultative with local partners and communities as a part of Prime Minister’s vision for Clean and Green Pakistan.”

    Sharing details about the tunnel, Aslam said that the tunnel was built in 1891 between Ghora Dhaka (presently Ayubia) to Khaira Gali (Murree) beneath the road and residential area in Ayubia Town. The tunnel had remained in terrible condition due to lack of maintenance over the last several decades.

    He said that this tunnel is 12 kilometres long and has a flat track. This track was 4 kilometres long before 12 more kilometres was added to it – it is now 16 kilometres in total.

    “Besides, reopening and renovation of the different segments of the tunnel, the tunnel site has also been provided with various facilities for tourists including paved track to the tunnel, information centre, guiding facilities, sitting and resting areas and coffee shop,” highlighted Aslam.

    The PM’s aide hoped that the glorious cultural icon would add value to the natural beauty of the national park and provide added attraction to tourists.

    He said: “We are taking practical steps to promote tourism. The restoration of this tunnel is also a link to the same series.”

  • Pakistan’s soft image can only be portrayed through tourism: PM Imran Khan

    Presiding over a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on tourism in Islamabad, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan said that Pakistan is blessed with different climatic zones and numerous untapped tourist points. He said that the government is focused on eco-tourism to ensure environmental conservation while managing and looking after tourist spots.

    According to details, PM Khan said that the government would provide all possible facilities for the development as well as the promotion of the tourism sector in the country. This initiative would not only generate revenue but also provide employment opportunities for the people of Pakistan.

    Previously in his first televised address to the nation, soon after taking oath, PM Imran had said: “Pakistan has huge tourism potential. We will promote tourism to strengthen the economy.”

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) for Overseas Pakistanis Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari briefed the committee about the progress of the development of the tourism sector. He also informed that substantial work has been undertaken for the development of religious tourism.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the World Tourism Forum 2021 will be held in Pakistan. According to Zulfi Bukhari, the forum will be a five-day event with over 1,000 foreign visitors expected to attend.

    “The World Tourism Forum will have three days for conference and two days for tourism”, the SAPM had said.

    Meanwhile, American business magazine Forbes has also listed Pakistan as one of the ten must-visit destinations for those who’re looking for something offbeat.

  • Kaghan to be developed into an all-time tourist destination

    The industries department has announced that Kaghan Valley will be developed into an all-weather tourist destination under the Economic Revitalisation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Project.

    As per reports, the chief minister’s special adviser on industry Kareem Khan handed over snow-blowing and other heavy machinery to Kaghan Development Authority (KDA) deputy director Sajjad Jan for the purpose.

    Kareem told reporters that the KDA would find places in Kaghan Valley, where landslides are a common occurrence and make them accessible for tourists. He said the government wanted to boost tourism in these areas so it provided modern machinery to the Kaghan and Galiyat Development Authorities for garbage dumping to preserve the environment.

    The chief minister’s aide said his department had allocated the financial support of Rs64 million to small and medium entities to promote tourism in the province.

    “The government in collaboration with the World Bank has launched the Economic Revitalisation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Project in 2012 to support small and medium enterprises through the matching grant along with the promotion of integrated tourism through the clean and green initiative,” he said.

    KDA deputy director Sajjad Jan said the industries department had given the authority heavy machinery, so it can clear landslides from the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road to control and restore traffic efficiently.