The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has successfully recovered a missing pouch containing $9,500, equivalent to Rs2.7 million, belonging to a passenger who arrived in Islamabad from the United States.
Anwar Aman and his family arrived in Islamabad via flight QR-632, as confirmed by a CAA official. Upon retrieving his bags from the belt in the lounge, he inadvertently left his handbag on the chair.
At around 2:30 am, Aman left the welcome area with his belongings. However, upon returning to the airport at 3 am, he discovered that his pouch was missing. After an unsuccessful attempt to locate the pouch himself, he reported the matter to the authorities and requested that CCTV footage be checked. Unfortunately, there was no CCTV surveillance in the location where the pouch was lost.
Subsequently, the Adviser to the Prime Minister, Aun Chaudhry, was contacted, and CAA Vigilance Assistant Rab Nawaz was instructed to investigate the matter through CCTV footage. The CAA team then proceeded to check each passenger with the help of cameras, and a particular family was suspected. As a result, data was collected from the female passenger and her other family members, and the husband of the female passenger in the UK was contacted and informed of the entire incident.
Eventually, the CAA team was able to recover the pouch containing $9,500 from the woman. The currency, worth Rs2.7 million, was then handed over to its owner, Anwar Aman.
Canadian vlogger Rosie Gabrielle has shared a special note on the occasion of Pakistan Resolution Day to express her love for her new “home”.
In a detailed note posted on Instagram, Gabrielle, who earlier converted to Islam said: “Two and a half years ago, I left my home in Canada to embark on a journey of a lifetime. Little did I know then, my trip across Pakistan would forever change me in so many ways.”
“I didn’t choose to come here, Pakistan chose me,” said Gabrielle, adding: “In 2018, I surrendered to the universe and said ‘Okay God, it’s up to you, where am I going next?’”
The vlogger then shared that a few days later she got an invitation to visit Pakistan for a short media tour.
“I’m not much of a ‘Group Traveller’ but took this as a divine invitation for something bigger and made my own trip after,” said Gabrielle. “I had always wanted to explore Pakistan so I gladly accepted. I didn’t know then that this trip would change my life.”
“All I knew is, I wanted to travel the entire country by bike and document my experiences. I didn’t know at that time if it was even logistically possible, or know much about the country,” said Rosie.
The vlogger further said that she knew she could “forever make a positive impact for Pakistan by showing the true hearts of the people and land here.”
“It was my destiny and my calling. I didn’t know how I would, I just knew I would and the will of my heart lead the way,” she shared. “For over two years now I have dedicated my heart, soul and all my energy to promoting peace and a positive change for this nation.”
Rosie, in her note, also talked about Adeel Amer, a Pakistani travel vlogger, who she recently got married to. The couple tied the knot earlier this month.
“I not only fell in love with the land [but also] the people. I’m humbly grateful every day for meeting the love of my life Adeel Amer, the most inspiring (this word does not do justice) human I know and finally able to call this beautiful country my HOME,” said Gabrielle.
The Government of Gilgit-Baltistan has decided to restart tourism-related activities in the province, Chief Minister’s(CM) spokesperson said on Friday.
Caretaker Chief Minister Mir Afzal Khan has issued a few directions to open the tourism sector in the province under strict standard operating procedures (SOP)s.
According to details, entrance of the tourists will be subject to the clearance of medical reports, the spokesperson said, adding that the travellers will be allowed to enter the province from August 8 (Saturday).
Earlier, Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar had announced that dine-in restaurants and beauty salonsacross Pakistan will reopen on August 10 as the country reported a decline in coronavirus cases.
Sports and games would be allowed to resume but without spectators and pillion-riding was also permitted.
The move to reopen the country came after a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) and discussion on recommendations in the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), he said, referring to the primary body that overlooks the efforts against the coronavirus pandemic in Pakistan.
In case you missed it, Pakistan was included on the Forbes list of ‘Best under-the-radar’ tourist spots in 2020. Needless to say, Pakistanis were overjoyed at this.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting celebrated the news by sharing a picture of the 7th-century Zvartnots Cathedral in Armenia.
Here are some more pictures of the cathedral. Built in the middle of the 7th century CE, under the instructions of the Catholicos Nerses III, Zvartnots is the oldest and largest aisled tetraconch church in historical Armenia.
The tweet was later retweeted by Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry and has close to 1000 likes.
A video inviting tourists and travellers to come visit Pakistan in 2020 will be aired on London’s New Year’s Day Parade (LNYDP) 2020, the World’s great street spectacular.
According to APP, the special video will include a message from Prime Minister Imran Khan, pictures of Pakistan’s scenic beauty and popular tourist spots and glimpses of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s recent visit to Pakistan. The background tune of the video will be the National Anthem.
Pakistan is among the 12 countries/brands which are being showcased on the Giant Screens covering the LNYDP throughout the day. The LNYDP screens will be located along the parade route of London at Piccadilly Circus, Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square and Big Ben/Houses of Parliament.
The Pakistan High Commission in London shared that the video message will be played in front of as many as 650,000 street spectators in addition to more than 1 million viewing audience throughout the day.
Apart from that, TV channels across the world will also be airing the footage of the giant screens.
“Visit Pakistan” Video on “London’s New Year’s Day Parade”
Giant Screens to Showcase Tourism Opportunities in Pakistan.
Pakistan has recently been named a tourist hotspot by the number one travel magazine Conde Nast Traveller. The British Backpacker Society (BBS) also rated Pakistan as a a must-visit adventure spot in the upcoming decade.
One of the world’s best travel portals, Traveller by Condè Nast, has rated Pakistan as the number one holiday destination for 2020.
The list is compiled by CN Traveller’s “well-travelled editors for the places they’re most excited about – in this instance not just for the next 12 months, but heading into a new decade.”
According to the authors, Pakistan is “the adventure traveller’s must-visit” destination.
Writing about the country, the award-winning magazine said, “Thwarted by tales of terrorism and Taliban rule, Pakistan’s tourism industry has been stymied for the past two decades. But ancient valleys, relaxed visa restrictions and a high-profile royal visit in the offing mean this remarkable country is finally getting the focus it deserves.”
It further read, “Because this is a place of exquisite landscapes, where green spaces are overlooked by towering mountains. In fact, Pakistan has more peaks taller than 22,965ft than China and Nepal combined, making it an almost magnetic spot for adventure travellers and intrepid hikers.”
“Visitors can follow in Michael Palin’s steps while traversing the 12,250ft Shandur Pass, home to the world’s highest polo field, or meet with the Kalash people of the Hindu Kush, famed for their cowrie-shell headdresses and brighter-than-bright embroidery. In Lahore, the sight of 100,000 worshippers crammed into the sandstone 17th-century Badshahi Mosque will leave you breathless, while Mughal-era architectural masterpieces stand resplendent on bustling street corners.”
Founder and CEO of adventure-tour operator Wild Frontiers Jonny Bealby said that Pakistan’s improving tourism was because of “a focus on security measures and the election of Imran Khan, who has vowed to increase international tourist numbers.”
Meanwhile, the royal visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge has also boosted Pakistan’s image as a popular tourist destination.
It is pertinent to mention here that the PTI government is making strong efforts to boost tourism in the country that will not only spread the soft image of Pakistan but also it will also bring the revenue into the country – the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor is proof of that.
Other destinations that featured on the list include Kyoto (Japan), Rijeka (Croatia), Panam, Rabat (Morocco) British Virgin Islands, Frisian Islands, Denmark, Qingdao (China), Lebanon, Portland (Maine, US), Dakar (Senegal), Egadi Islands (Sicily), Paris (France), Siargao (Philippines), Galway (Ireland), Kangaroo Island (Australia), Salvador (Brazil), Armenia (Kyrgyzstan) and Plymouth (UK).
Previously, UK publication The Independent also wrote that travel experts are recommending Pakistan as a must-visit destination for 2020.
“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s visit to Pakistan this autumn put the country back into the spotlight. Plus, it’s now easier to get there from London, thanks to new direct British Airways flights to Pakistan’s capital Islamabad,” read The Independent’s article.
Good news for all those applying for their US visa.
The United States Embassy in Pakistan has announced the introduction of a new optional visa delivery service.
According to a tweet from the official account of the US Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistanis can avail the facility of having their US visa delivered to them on their doorstep. The service is optional and comes with a delivery charge of Rs 700.
To avail this service, select the “premium delivery” option during the application process and you’re good to go.
Good news! We are now offering OPTIONAL home delivery service for your U.S. #visa! For a cash-on-deliver fee of PKR 700, we will send your passport & visa to any Pakistani address. To utilize this new service, select the “premium delivery” option during the application process. pic.twitter.com/l89HnLvxgT
