tourism news in pakistan

Promoting Responsible Tourism in Pakistan’s North

Pakistan’s tourist attractions are diverse

World Bank Pakistan

Growing up, Muhammad Numan saw a cleaner, more natural environment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tourist destinations. But as time passed and tourism surged, the local landscape he once knew began to change. The influx of tourists resulted in a growing pile of litter across the otherwise scenic sites in the north.

The travel and tourism sector’s total contribution to Pakistan’s GDP was 5.9 percent in 2022 and 4.2 million jobs.  This is sub-optimal considering the diverse tourist sites located across the country. Pakistan attracted ~US$ 16 billion in visitor spending in 2022 which is projected to touch ~US$ 30 billion in 2033.

Pakistan experienced an unprecedented surge in domestic tourism immediately after the Covid induced travel restrictions were lifted: For instance, in 2021 and 2022, over 1.2 million domestic and international tourists visited the country’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province alone .

To manage this increasing all-season footfall of visitors while harnessing its understated economic potential, the local authorities, communities, and private sector require resources, equipment and training without losing focus on green and inclusive tourism.

Determined to make a change, Numan, who now works as a manager at a local hotel in Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sought ways to mitigate the negative impact of the tourism industry on the ecosystem. That is when he came across the “Travel Responsibly for Experiencing Eco-tourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” (TREK) initiative – a partnership between the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, World Bank (WB) and Nestlé Pakistan to promote and support responsible tourism initiatives.

TREK complements the ongoing activities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism Development Project (KITE) project for heritage preservation and tourism infrastructure development. Since 2020, it has completed awareness campaigns for tourists, and training of local communities and hospitality businesses on waste management. TREK has trained over 650 participants from more than 150 hotels and restaurants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tourist areas. The beneficiaries also included local communities, local authorities and academia of Peshawar, Nathiagali, Abbottabad, Swat , Naran and Chitral districts.

These trainings concentrated on solid waste minimization, segregation, management, and recycling techniques. Public service messages on responsible tourism were also launched through social media and radio campaigns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and cities of Islamabad and Lahore. Most country’s domestic tourists are concentrated in these geographies and were thus able to receive communication on tourist helplines on the importance of keeping the sites litter-free.

10,000 reusable bags were distributed to tourists and the hotel association in tourist hotspots aiming to encourage their use and minimize littering. In parallel, the IDA-financed KITE project provided waste bins, garbage collection and compacting machinery to the local authorities in Nathiagali, Naran, Chitral and Kumrat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and a few locations in Punjab province, and installed 50 tourist information signboards to complement the awareness campaigns.

Tourist information sign boards in Galiyat, Pakistan

TREK Awareness Workshop for Community and Local Government Participants

Incorporating the knowledge from these sessions, like several other participants, Numan introduced eco-friendly practices at his hotel. He also spearheads a community-funded clean-up initiative in his hometown of Mardan district. This initiative has transformed into a community-driven effort, with residents actively participating in regular clean-up drives. Such sustainable transformations encapsulate the very essence of what TREK envisions for communities throughout the province and beyond.

TREK has propelled its partners towards impactful activities by encouraging collaboration with the private sector. Its partner in the initiative, Nestlé Pakistan, is taking concrete actions to create circular systems that make it easier to collect, recycle and reuse products that use plastic. It is committed to designing 100 percent of its plastic packaging for recycling and expects to achieve a 95 percent target by 2025.

The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has allocated resources and supports its teams to ensure green and inclusive destination management in partnership with the private sector.

The project has also provided machinery for snow removal and solid waste management to local authorities to improve accessibility, traffic flow and promote sustainable tourism in the province.

TREK's inclusivity stands out, inviting participants from diverse backgrounds, including women, youth, and the transgender community.  Zareen Akhtar, a social worker, and human rights activist who underwent TREK training, testified to the program's transformative impact. She acknowledged the newfound knowledge she gained, eager to share it with others. She emphasized that she’s one of the many women in this region who have had the opportunity to attend these trainings. “Inclusion of women not only has a wider social impact but also a major mindset shift in the region, allowing for a cohesive awareness within the social fabric of the community.”

Initiatives like TREK have the power to transform the tourism landscape in some of Pakistan's most pristine destinations and ensure that future generations continue to enjoy these in years to come. In its next phase, TREK will integrate additional players from the private and financial sectors of the country to launch activities that support community empowerment and investment mobilization for job creation.

By Kiran Afzal , Senior Private Sector Specialist, World Bank Pakistan,  Touseef Khalid , Project Director, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism Development (KITE) Project, and  Sheikh Waqar Ahmad , Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Nestlé Pakistan.

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Pakistan tourism industry expects to earn 4b USD in next 4 years: PTDC MD

ISLAMABAD-Managing Director of Pakistan Tourism Department Corporation (PTDC) Aftab ur Rehman Rana, Tuesday said that Pakistan’s tourism industry, currently estimated at USD 2.5 billion which will go up to USD 4 billion in next four years. Tourism was not just about attractive destinations and leisure activities, but had emerged as one of the fundamental pillars of economic development and had one of the highest job-creating potentials across all sectors of the country, he said.  The government was doing all to promote tourism and generate more employment opportunities for youth in Pakistan, he said, adding, currently over 300,000 jobs were created through tourism industry which would be further increased to 500,000  in coming years. “The promotion of tourism will not only create economic activity in the local areas, but will also have a positive impact on the national economy,” he said adding, the contribution rate of the tourism industry to Pakistan’s GDP was 5%, which would exceed to 7%. The tourism ministry was taking a keen interest in promoting the culture, adventure and religious tourism in the country and adopting measures to revamp the infrastructure and ensure all the required facilities for the tourists, he added. With public-private partnership, more destinations were being identified and developed, historic and religious places were being refurbished and preserved, roads and motorways leading to tourist destinations were being built, and new hotels and accommodations were being set up, he mentioned. He said that government was facilitating private tour operators, adding, private tour operators from next year would participate in five major tourism expose to further promote soft image of Pakistan on international forums.  He also stressed for bringing improvement in aviation policy which would control high rate fares of airlines, adding, there was dire need to allow neighbour countries’ airlines in the country in which we would earn double revenue and it would give a new competition between airlines.  He said Pakistan was among the top few countries which were facing the highest risk of disasters due to impacts of global warming and climate change, adding that many heritage sites had faced serious damages and many natural landscapes of tourist areas had been eroded. To another question, he said Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) had held a two-day conference in Islamabad to mark the World Tourism Day, which was celebrated every year on 27th September.  Experts from tourism industry had participated in five panel discussions to discuss topics including restoration of tourism after floods and widespread rains, removing bottlenecks to promote foreign tourism in Pakistan, issues and challenges of mountaineering and trekking tourism in the country, he added.

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Tourism — massive untapped potential

Pakistan’s tourism sector can generate billions in revenue if tapped

Despite constraints like a strict visa regime, terrorism, poor infrastructure, inadequately trained human resources, and the lack of a robust tourism culture, Pakistan’s tourism sector still has vast potential to achieve significant milestones and act as an engine for economic growth.

If tapped carefully, the lucrative sector can turn around the lives of hundreds of millions for good.

With an amalgamation of the scenic beauty of mountain ranges, vast plains, soothing lakes, gushing rivers, enchanting coastline, calm deserts, and religio-historic monuments, the country hosts socio-cultural relics gathered from knowledge and experience of invaders, rulers, historians, and communities.

Diversified in cultures and cuisines, the country also boasts noble traditions of hospitality, brotherhood, and religious harmony rooted in civilisations like Gandhara and Indus.

It is geographically unique with archaeological heritage, and spiritual and cultural sites providing ample tourism opportunities for nature lovers and followers of different religions.

Thus one can judiciously claim that Pakistan’s tourism industry holds limitless potential.

But unlike many countries of the world earning billions of dollars annually through their tourism industry, Pakistan is still struggling to fully capitalise on this potential although some strides have been made in the recent past like winning the Best New Exhibitor Award at Travel and Adventure Show 2023 at New York in January this year.

Around 20 prominent companies in the tourism and hospitality sector along with provincial tourism departments from Punjab, Sindh, KPK, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan presented Pakistan’s rich tourism potential at the international show.

The participating companies also had meetings with major tour operators in USA and counterparts in other countries as a series of shows at this event had attracted over 2.5 million travelers to over 4,500 destinations of the world.

“Pakistan has a variety of tourist destinations with the strongest and unique traditions of warm hospitality which is also acknowledged by foreign tourists,” said PTDC Managing Director Rana Aftab.

“Therefore, it is high time to promote awareness by educating people about their duties to preserve the environment and cultural heritage of the country.”

He said Pakistan's participation in Travel and Trade Show has been highly impactful in terms of response from the public and international tourism organisations.

“The event provided an opportunity to interact with top international and domestic tour operators, cruise lines, and travel providers,” he stated.

“Besides routine tourism, we also have vast potential to promote cultural and religious tourism by attracting believers of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Sikh religions.”

The statistics show that on average, around 7,500 Sikhs from India and around 2,000 from Europe, the USA, and Canada visit Pakistan annually. Similarly, around 2,000 Buddhists visit their holy sites in Pakistan.

This is far below the potential as there are around 30 million Sikhs and around 500 million Buddhism believers living in different countries across the world.

“Pakistan is a country with landmarks of various religious ethnicities and unexplored potential for religious tourism,” Rana Aftab said.

Therefore, PTDC is pursuing a plan to boost religious tourism for promoting inter-faith harmony and revenue generation, he said.

He, however, mentioned some visa policy and security issues and suggested a conducive environment for international tourists to have a due share of earnings from this industry.

Pakistan, owing to vast natural and cultural beauty and religious tourism potential can earn its due share, Rana Aftab said.

“Therefore keeping in view its economic value, we need to ensure a better and secure environment and ease of traveling for tourists to earn direly needed foreign exchange,” he pleaded.

For this purpose, we can promote group tourism through registered and licensed tour operators globally, ensuring an amicable environment for international tourists.

Although PTDC arranges events like National Ice Hockey Championship at Ghulkin in Upper Hunza to promote winter tourism yet it also needs to broaden its spectrum to highlight multiple sites for tourism in the world tourism market.

Statistics show that during 2021-22, around 91,185,177 local tourists visited Northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tourist destinations like Chitral, Kalash, Dir-Kumrat, Swat, Kalam, Dasu, Kohistan, Manshera, and Naran.

But this figure stood just at 3,500 in terms of foreign tourists which is too small for a country bestowed with amazing landscapes, pines, and deodar forests, rich historical and cultural heritage, and snow-covered mountain peaks.

The country also boasts thousands of years old history with civilizations like Meher Garh, Mohenjo-Daro, and Gandhara and protected archeological sites.

Its potential for sports tourism is also unmatchable as the country possesses vast opportunities for hiking, ice hockey, skating, rock climbing, and mountaineering.

Therefore, if we cannot attract a vast number of foreign tourists despite having such countless bounties of Nature, we need to revisit our policies and approaches to benefit from this highly valuable income resource of our economy.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27 th , 2023.

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Rich potential needs to be realized

Tourism significantly boosts economic status and global harmony by connecting different cultures, increasing local production rates and competition among tourism companies. It also reduces poverty and supports middle and lower-level economic communities. Tourism is predicted to reach $1.8 billion by 2030, strong tourist endeavours benefit any country by creating jobs, raising income, attracting diverse investments, facilitating tax collection, and improving GDP.

It contributes to economic growth across various sectors, increasing foreign exchange profits, spurring industrial expansion, and supporting travel and lodging industries. Rapid economic expansion attracts international business travellers, increasing developed nations’ foreign reserves.

As the world increasingly turns to Pakistan’s hidden gem, the future of tourism holds the promise of transformation, fostering economic growth, cultural exchange, and global understanding. Pakistan’s tourism potential requires a comprehensive management plan, investments, marketing, attractive packages, and infrastructure, with key factors including information availability, security, 24/7 emergency support, and a courteous workforce

Pakistan attracts 0.7 million tourists annually, a significant increase from the previous decade. In 2009, Pakistan ranked among 25 percent of the world’s most visited places based on its world heritage sites. According to the World Bank, Pakistan brought in $16 billion in tourist spending in 2022, and that amount is expected to rise to $30 billion by 2033. The travel and tourism sector’s total contribution to Pakistan’s GDP was 5.9 percent in 2022 and 4.2 million jobs. With its diverse landscapes, historical treasures, and vibrant culture, Pakistan is gaining popularity as a global travel destination.

Pakistan is a significant site for prehistoric archaeological research, containing ancient civilizations like the Gandhara Civilization and the Indus Valley Civilization, and the Mughal Empire. The Gandhara Civilization, linked to an ancient kingdom, is considered the sixth most beautiful area on earth. The Indus Valley Civilization, linked to the Bronze Era, was established on a 1.2 million km area with an estimated population of 5 million. Samples, antiques, and collections from these civilizations are housed in various museums in Pakistan.

Religious tourism in Pakistan involves visiting holy places for worship and spiritual pleasure. The country has a rich Islamic heritage and diverse religious heritage from other religions. The Kalash people, animists with ancient Albanian roots, have a unique culture with captivating festivals. Gurdwaras’ holy place in Nankana Sahib and Hasan Abdal are a significant persuasion site for the Sikh community. The Kartarpur Corridor connects the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in northwest India to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, believed to be a place of Sikhism foundation. Other notable shrines in Pakistan include those of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Data Ganj Bakhsh Ali Hujwairi, Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganj-e-Shakar, Mian Mir, Shah Hussain, and Bahauddin Zakaria.

Pakistani culture values sports, with cricket being the favourite. The Pakistan Sports Board aims to enhance competition, maintain international standards, and manage sports in Pakistan. The Board supports players and associations in participating in sports. Field hockey, cricket, kabaddi, and squash attract international tourists. Pakistan’s diverse ecosystem, including dunes, mountains, deserts, and forests, is protected by national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, game reserves, and community-controlled hunting areas. With over 668 bird species, Pakistan offers nature-based tourism activities like trekking, mountain biking, mountain climbing, whitewater rafting, jeep safaris, trophy hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching. Cultural festivals and fairs provide excellent tourism opportunities, such as Shandur Polo, the Silk Route fair, the Kalash dance festival, the water sports festival, and various food festivals. Adventure tourism offers various opportunities, including the Karakoram Range, Baltoro Glacier, Chitral Valley, and Deosai National Park. These regions attract mountaineers, trekkers, and nature enthusiasts, offering challenging and rewarding experiences.

The northern part of Pakistan features some of the world’s most beautiful scenic areas, including Swat, Kalam, Malam Jaba, Shangla, Balakot, Galyat, Murree, Chitral, Gilgit Baltistan, Hunza, Kaghan, Naran, and Neelam valley. The country has an inordinate diversity of animals and plants, with five of the highest peaks in the world, including K-2, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum-I, Broad Peak, and Gasherbrum II. The Karakoram Highway connects Pakistan to China, offering stunning views of snow-capped peaks and valleys.

The Kaghan Valley and Neelum Valley attract nature enthusiasts. The Makran Coastal Highway, stretching along the Arabian Sea in Balochistan, presents a scenic route for road trips, allowing travellers to explore the pristine beaches and coastal landscapes. The Hingol National Park, with its diverse flora and fauna, is a testament to the country’s ecological richness. Lahore, a Mughal architecture treasure, and Karachi’s bustling bazaars showcase Pakistan’s urban life.

Pakistan’s tourism industry has potential to attract both visitors and the investors, but fears several challenges. A research report by TDAP identifies several issues, including security issues, negative media portrayal, lack of supportive infrastructure, poor development policies, inadequate facilities, lack of government support, and low investment. Other issues include shortages of trained staff, lack of services, insufficient equipment, lack of interest in meeting visitor needs, and haphazard price hikes. Authorities should play a more active role in tourism development, ensuring tourists obtain visas and relevant information promptly.

Challenges and security concerns remain significant for Pakistan’s tourism sector, with internal conflicts and geopolitical tensions contributing to a perception of instability. Efforts to promote tourism include infrastructure development, the ‘Brand Pakistan’ campaign, international collaborations with travel agencies and organizations, specialized tourism packages, and community involvement.

As the world increasingly turns to Pakistan’s hidden gem, the future of tourism holds the promise of transformation, fostering economic growth, cultural exchange, and global understanding. Pakistan’s tourism potential requires a comprehensive management plan, investments, marketing, attractive packages, and infrastructure, with key factors including information availability, security, 24/7 emergency support, and a courteous workforce.

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Today's Paper | March 29, 2024

Pakistan & tourism.

ON Dec 15, 2019, Pakistan was ranked the top tourist destination for travellers for the year 2020 by the United States-based luxury and lifestyle publication Condé Nast Traveller.

The tourism sector is playing a vital role in our economy. In 2018, the contribution of tourism to GDP was 7.1 per cent, bringing billions of dollars and creating new job opportunities within the economy.

Indeed it was a great step by the government to establish the National Tourism Coordination Board to coordinate with provinces, territories and regions. The tourism industry contributes to Pakistan’s economy through foreign currency inflow, job opportunities and infrastructure.

In addition, numerous small-scale businesses like hotels, restaurants, car rental agencies and tour companies are associated with the tourism industry.

Pakistan is the most preferable tourist destination and had received several positive reviews of Pakistan’s tourist attractions by travel bloggers, vloggers, magazines and adventure clubs.

The government was expecting to compete with other top countries like the US, Spain, France, Italy, and Hong Kong by 2025. This Covid-19 pandemic will have economic consequences all over the world and it will be hard for Pakistan as a developing economy to bear these consequences. The question is: what will be the future of the tourism sector and what measures will the government take to maintain this sector?

The tourism industry always booms during the summer season, but this year a major decline is expected. Thus the government should take the right steps to give a further boost to this growing sector, which is cost-effective and brings foreign exchange. This eventually helps us to stop currency devaluation as the dollar is already skyrocketing against Pakistani rupee.

This sector will also help create thousands of job opportunities in both the formal and informal sectors, which will ultimately lessen the burden on the government.

Saleem Dilawar Islamabad

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2020

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‘زخم اور ہڈی ٹوٹی ہوتی تو بریانی کیسے بناتا؟’، انور مقصود کی افواہوں کی تردید

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• Pakistan’s tourism industry gets hit by climate change

In May, Pakistan witnessed its hottest April in 61 years. March had been the ninth driest since 1961. The heatwave meant Lahore's traditional springtime had already begun betraying elements of peak summer. While rising temperatures have pushed visitors out of Lahore, they are being increasingly lured to the North not only owing to the cool weather but also because glaciers melting early in the season mean tourist attractions opening faster than usual.

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Night Tourism is being introduced in Peshawar for the first time by Archaeology Department and Tour da Peshawar with the support of Pakistan Army.

Under this initiative, the public will have an opportunity to enjoy local cuisine and music along with a tour of Peshawar's historical sites.

The introduction of night tourism will further strengthen the tourism sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has formally approved the renovation and decoration of Qissa Khwani Bazaar to protect the historical heritage of Peshawar.

Pakistan Army has started work on the restoration and decoration of historical places of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at several places of Khyber Trail.

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Saudi tourism authority holds first networking event in pakistan to promote kingdom’s travel industry.

https://arab.news/gsmrw

• Kingdom has in recent years started to promote leisure travel as part of a strategy aimed at diversifying the economy away from oil
• Last year, Saudi government revised its domestic and international visitor target upwards from 100 million to 150 million by 2030

KARACHI: The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) hosted its first networking event in Pakistan this week with the aim to spotlight the kingdom as a “destination beyond just religious experiences” and invite visitors to see its pristine beauty and cultural diversity and heritage. Saudi Arabia is a major religious destination with millions visiting Islam’s two holy cities of Makkah and Madina annually to perform the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. But the kingdom has in recent years started to promote leisure travel as part of a strategy aimed at diversifying the economy away from oil, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Last year, the Saudi government revised its domestic and international visitor target upwards from 100 million to 150 million by 2030.  “The government has a vision to increase this number by three or ten folds in the days to come, as per the vision of Vision 2030 by his Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman and that’s what we are all collectively working on, enhancing this experience,” Dr. Omar Ayoub, Assistant General Manager at Zamzam.com, a partner of STA, told Arab News after the networking event on Thursday. “The main idea of this event was to showcase Saudi Arabia as a destination beyond just the religious experiences, to see the pristine beauty, the culture, the acceptance, inclusion, diversity of products and services that Saudi has to offer … It’s a combination of different experiences that we would like the world to come and see.” The Saudi government has taken several measures in recent months to improve tourism numbers, such as relaxing visa conditions including by allowing those with Umrah visas to freely travel around the kingdom. Last year, Alhasan A. Aldabbagh, President of the Asia-pacific (APAC) markets at STA, had told Arab News Saudi Arabia was targeting more than 3.5 million visitors from Pakistan by 2030. Saudi Arabia expects the fourth edition of Riyadh Season 2023 to attract 10 million to 12 million visitors, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Turki Al-Sheikh said in September. Tourism currently makes up 2-3 percent of Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product (GDP). However, with investment in the tourism sector, the kingdom aims to increase the share to 10 percent of GDP by 2030. Saudi Arabia hopes to open the doors of several tourism-focused projects over the next few years, including the Red Sea project, a high-end development that will feature resorts on islands and inland. The kingdom also plans to turn Al-Ula and its majestic rock-hewn tombs of Madain Saleh, the relics of an ancient civilization, into a global tourism destination and eventually attract millions of visitors, local and foreign alike. Al-Ula’s development is part of a push to preserve pre-Islamic heritage sites in order to attract non-Muslim tourists, strengthen national identity and temper the austere strain of Islam that has dominated Saudi Arabia for decades.

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‘act of devotion’: pakistani artist turns worn qur’anic pages into works of art .

• 28-year-old visual artist Saad Mehmood began restoring Qur’an pages ready for ritual disposal as part of BA final-year thesis
• Renowned artists describe the effort as “positive,” say it is vital to expand ways in which we experience the holy book 

LAHORE: For Saad Mehmood, it was a routine visit to a mosque in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore for Friday prayers in 2017 when the then 22-year-old stumbled upon a store room with sheaves of paper stored carefully on a shelf.  The worn pages were fragments from everyday copies of the Qur’an, which were awaiting ritual disposal. In Pakistan, pages of the holy book that are disposed are often called shaheed, or martyred, copies.  In Islam, widely accepted methods of disposing worn pages of the holy book are to wrap them in a cloth and bury them, ideally in a mosque, or to burn them respectfully.  But Mehmood, at the time a final year student of fine arts at the Beaconhouse National University (BNU), was inspired by the worn copies and decided to restore them as part of his thesis.  “Saad asked for some of these pages that were torn or worn out, and started to restore the ordinary, mass-printed sheets with gold paper and the finest ink — bringing that which was ‘martyred’ back to life,” the artist’s statement accompanying an ongoing exhibition of his works in Lahore reads.  The effort is “an act of artistic devotion,” Mehmood told Arab News at the exhibition last week, saying all his work now revolved around restoring the holy pages and turning them into artforms.  “This work started in 2017,” Mehmood, now a 28-year-old visual artist, said. “I collect the pages of the Qur’an that are shaheed, then there’s an entire process to their restoration, I fill in the damaged parts so that the pages are readable again.” Mehmood said he had done extensive research on damaged Qur’anic pages and what happened to them and where they went from storerooms of mosques and homes. “I saw that they’re buried in graveyards, or floated in clean and flowing water. Sometimes, I even saw the pages being burned and their ashes buried in some corner of a graveyard,” he explained.  This got Mehmood thinking: instead of disposing of the sacred texts, he could restore them. The process of restoration was a difficult one, as many Qur’an pages Mehmood came across had no references. “When we open these [Qur’anic] collections… there are [some] smaller pages which don’t have any references [which ayat, surah, what page number],” he said. “So, this was a conundrum… how do I restore them when there’s no reference to work with?“ Mehmood decided to make a collage of such pages. “So, at least they are still visible, still accessible,” he said. “So, we don’t accidentally disrespect the words, they will remain in front of our eyes, and then turn them into art to be appreciated.” Mehmood has also visited multiple religious scholars to present his idea and his work.  “There are a lot of organizations in Pakistan like Tahaffuz-e-Auraq [who dispose of pages in the prescribed manner],” Mehmood said. “I restored them and then I started showing people that basically this is the work I’m doing.” The idea found wide acceptability, he said.  “GOLD LEAF” The ongoing exhibition in Lahore, organized by the Pakistan Art Forum, includes collages of restored Qur’anic fragments, concentric circles around Islamic calligraphy, decorative additions like gold leaves, and paintings with Arabic diacritics on Vasli and white paper. And this is all by design. Mehmood said he wants to further explore this Islamic art form and create something new, like his painting of the diacritics without any words, or of punctuation marks without any sentences. “The Qur’an came to us from Arabia, and the diacritics were added later, so that non-native Arabic speakers [Ajmi] could understand the text,” he said. “[Helping] in how to pronounce and enunciate it, zeir, zabr, that is also something I’ve worked on, and will continue to work on.” There is also a reason why Mehmood uses gold leaf so often. “When you look at my work… I have used gold leaf on the shaheed [damaged] Qur’anic pages,” he said.  “I used that gold leaf specifically and consciously, because gold is considered a divine material. And where the words are missing, pages torn, I’ve also used gold leaf to show the preciousness of the lost words, using a precious material.” “EXPAND WAYS TO EXPERIENCE QUR’AN” The visual artist has held a number of group exhibitions at the Alhamra Arts Center in Lahore and Sanat Gallery in the southern port city of Karachi. Last week, he held his second solo show in Lahore, titled Al-Qadr, referring to the night when Muslims believe the Qur’an was first revealed. While most of the visitors to the Lahore exhibition said they had come out of curiosity, they left with admiration for the intricate work and beautiful calligraphy or collage technique that Mehmood uses. “Calligraphy is a part of [what I do], but this is something else [entirely],” he explained. “You can call it a collage. You can call it an installation. You can call it painting, you can call it artwork.” Shahid Rassam, a famous Pakistani painter and sculptor, described Mehmood work as “positive,” saying he had seen other works, though rare, in which worn Qur’an pages were restored as a form of art. Rassam, who has himself made contemporary forms of the Qur’an, including one in which he used metal engravings, said it was “vital to expand the ways in which we experience the sacred text, even as art installations.” “I think what this young man [Saad Mehmood] is doing is objectively a positive thing,” the artist said. “He’s taking sacred pages and giving them their rightful respect, instead of just letting them lie in poorly-kept stores and boxes.”

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Beijing backs pakistan to bring perpetrators of attack on chinese nationals to justice.

• Five Chinese nationals were killed on Tuesday in northwestern Pakistan when a bomber targeted their vehicle 
• Pakistan has since then enhanced security for Chinese personnel in the country, vowed to punish culprits of the attack

ISLAMABAD: China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday his government believes Islamabad will hold accountable the perpetrators of a deadly attack on Chinese nationals in Pakistan this week, vowing that Beijing was ready to step up cooperation with the international community against militancy.  Five Chinese nationals and their Pakistan driver were killed on Tuesday in Shangla, located in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, when a bomber rammed his explosive-laden car into their vehicle.  The attack occurred in an area vital to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which encompasses various mega projects crucial for Pakistan’s economy. The victims were en route to Dasu Dam, Pakistan’s largest hydropower project, when they were targeted.  “The Pakistani side is working intensively to investigate and handle the aftermath and has taken concrete steps to enhance security for Chinese personnel, projects and institutions,” Jian told reporters during a press briefing.  “We believe Pakistan will get to the bottom of the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice as soon as possible.” No group had claimed responsibility for the attack but suspicion was likely to fall on separatists and the breakaway Gul Bahadur faction of the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, and is a separate group, but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban. The TTP denied being behind the suicide bombing in a statement Wednesday, saying: “We are in no way related to the attack on the Chinese engineers.” Tuesday’s attack came less than a week after Pakistani security forces killed eight Balochistan Liberation Army separatists who opened fire on a convoy carrying Chinese citizens outside the Chinese-funded Gwadar port in the volatile southwestern Balochistan province.

Pakistan, Iran agree to strengthen bilateral ties to tackle regional militancy

• Pakistan’s planning minister meets Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Raza Amiri Moghaddam 
• Pakistan, Iran both blame each other for not doing enough to root out militancy in border areas

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Raza Amiri Moghaddam on Thursday agreed to strengthen bilateral relations between their countries to reduce militancy in the region, state-run media reported.

Pakistan and Iran are often at odds with each other over instability on their shared border. Both countries have routinely blamed each other for not rooting out militancy. Small separatist groups in Pakistan have been behind a long-running insurgency, calling for gas and oil-rich Balochistan’s independence from the central government in Islamabad.

Pakistani anti-Iran militants have also targeted the Iranian border in recent years, increasing friction between the countries.

“Pakistan and Iran have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations to reduce tendencies of terrorism and extremism in the region,” the state-run Radio Pakistan said. 

Radio Pakistan said the agreement to bolster bilateral ties was reached between Moghaddam and Iqbal during a meeting in Islamabad. 

“The Planning Minister emphasized the importance of enhancing connectivity through trade routes, considering the 900-kilometer shared land and maritime border,” he said. 

Tensions reached a head in January between Pakistan and Iran after they exchanged airstrikes against alleged militant targets in each other’s territories. Both countries since then have made efforts to ease tensions and promote bilateral trade with each other. 

Pakistan’s stock exchange closes at all-time high amid expectations of fresh IMF deal

• Pakistan Stock Exchange closes at all-time high of 67,142.12 points, registering an increase of 594.34 points from Wednesday
• Analysts link recent surge to possibility of Pakistan reaching another bailout agreement with IMF, privatizing national airline

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed its highest closing in history on Thursday as the benchmark KSE-100 index closed at 67,142.12 points, with analysts linking the recent surge to market expectations of the possibility of a successful deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for another bailout program. 

The benchmark index settled at 67,142.12 points on Thursday at the close of trading, registering an increase of 594.34 points or 0.89 percent. This makes it the stock market’s highest closing in history, the previous highest being 66,547.78 points a day earlier. 

Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached a staff-level agreement last Wednesday which would pave the way for the release of $1.1 billion for the cash-strapped South Asian country. Pakistan has expressed its interest in securing a new loan under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program with the IMF.

Financial expert and journalist Faseeh Mangi said the Pakistan Stock Exchange is one of the best performers in the world “in a rally that started last year after Pakistan avoided a default.”

“The latest surge is on possible IMF deal, PIA sale,” Mangi wrote on X on Wednesday, referring to the government’s plans to privatize Pakistan International Airlines, its national airline. 

Topline Securities’ Deputy Head of Sales Ali Najib said the index had finally breached the 66,000 barrier, saying it could be attributed to “positive vibes from the IMF, rejuvenated foreign interest at historically low valuations and progress on SOE privatization.” 

Shehbaz Sharif, who was elected prime minister for a second term earlier this month, faces the daunting challenge of negotiating a long-term financial bailout program with the IMF. Pakistan’s fragile $350-billion economy is in desperate need of external financing to shore up its foreign exchange reserves and escape a looming macroeconomic crisis.

For Pakistan, committing to a new IMF program, however, will mean committing to steps needed to stay on a narrow path to recovery. This would limit policy options to provide relief to a deeply frustrated population and cater to industries that are looking for government support to spur growth.

Inflation touched a high of 38 percent with record depreciation of the rupee currency under Sharif’s last government from April 2022 to August 2023, mainly due to structural reforms necessitated by the IMF program. Pakistan continues to be enmeshed in economic crisis with inflation remaining high, hovering around 30 percent, and economic growth slowing to around 2 percent.

Tickets for Pakistan’s home series against New Zealand to go on sale from today

• Pakistan will play against New Zealand in Rawalpindi and Lahore venues from April 18-27
• Series will help prepare both sides for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 in USA and West Indies

ISLAMABAD: The tickets for Pakistan’s upcoming T20I home cricket series against New Zealand will go on sale from tooday, Friday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement on Thursday. 

The five-match series is scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi on April 18, 20 and 21 and in Lahore on April 25 and 27. 

“In the first phase, the pre-booking of the online tickets will start on Friday at 5pm at pcb.tcs.com.pk,” the PCB said. “The sale of physical tickets along with outlet addresses will be announced in due course.”

The PCB said tickets for the Rawalpindi leg of the matches will be available at a minimum cost of Rs500 ($1.80) and the maximum will be available for Rs7,500 ($26.98) for the VVIP Gallery. Additionally, hospitality seats will be available at a maximum amount of PKR 15,000 ($53.97) except for the first T20I where the hospitality seats will be available for PKR 12,000 ($43.17).

For the Lahore leg, ticket prices start at Rs300 ($1.08) for the general seats while the maximum ticket prices will be Rs6,000 ($21.59) for the fourth T20I while Rs7,000 ($25.19) for the fifth T20I (VVIP Gallery).

The series will be important for both sides as they gear up for this year’s ICC T20 World Cup 2024 which is scheduled to be held in June in the USA and West Indies. 

Pakistan will lock horns with arch-rivals India on June 9 for a big-ticket clash at New York.   

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Pakistan unveils tourism potential at Travel & Adventure Show, New York, 2024

A 60-member delegation, including representatives of Pakistan Tourism Development Cooperation, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and 24 private sector companies take part in the event.

New York: Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan inaugurated Pakistan's pavilion at New York's famed 'Travel and Adventure Show' that showcased the nation's diverse tourism potential.

A 60-member delegation, including representatives of Pakistan Tourism Development Cooperation, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and 24 private sector companies are participating in the event.

The Travel and Adventure Show will feature live performances by artisans specializing in lacquer woodwork and traditional doll making.

It is pertinent to mention here that Building on the success of the previous year, Pakistan Pavilion received the “Best In-Show International Tourism Development” award from the organizers of the event.

In his message, Minister of State for Tourism and Chairman PTDC Wasi Shah congratulated the team including all stakeholders for making the arrangements for setting up the “Pakistan Pavilion” in this international travel fair. He hoped that all these effects will greatly contribute to attract more foreign visitors to Pakistan.

At the inauguration ceremony of “Pakistan Pavilion”, Pakistan’s Ambassador to US, Ambassador Masood Khan highlighted the huge potential for tourism in Pakistan. He mentioned that Pakistan is home to ancient and modern civilizations and has the most beautiful touristic sites including picturesque snow-capped peaks, untouched coastal areas, vast deserts, and a rich cultural heritage all making the country as one of the top travel destinations in the world. Ambassador Masood Khan further said that members of the Pakistani community should boost tourism in their motherland by investing in this potentially lucrative sector.

The Travel and Adventure Show held in New York annually, is an ideal platform for interaction with visitors to top international and domestic travel destinations, tour operators, cruise lines, and travel providers.

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Pakistan: At least 35 die due to surprise snowfall and heavy rains

• Published 5 March

At least 35 people died while dozens more were injured as freezing rain and unexpected snowfall hit remote areas of Pakistan over the weekend.

Twenty-two children were among the fatalities, many of whom were crushed in landslides that buried their homes, disaster management authorities said.

The extreme weather hit Pakistan's northern and western regions, clogging roads and damaging hundreds of houses.

Experts were surprised by the snow as Pakistan is typically mild in March.

Mushtaq Ali Shah, a former director of the country's meteorological department, attributed the unusual conditions to climate change.

He added that a light hail storm that lasts "for a few moments" would not be as surprising, but it is unusual for that to continue for over 30 minutes.

According to BBC Meteorologist Chris Fawkes, a westerly disturbance has been moving across Afghanistan, Pakistan and north-west India over recent days bringing extreme cold, heavy snow and torrential rain.

It has taken locals by surprise.

Hajit Shah, a resident of Kirk district in the north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said that he had experienced snow in his neighbourhood only once before.

"As far as I can remember, there was light snowfall for a few minutes about 25 or 30 years ago," he told the BBC.

The heavy rains completely destroyed at least 150 houses and partially damaged 500 others, mostly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the south-western Balochistan province, authorities said.

Electricity has been completely cut off in some districts for several days.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's provincial government has provided relief supplies to affected areas and announced financial assistance for the injured and the families of those who died.

Pakistan's meteorological department said in its weekly forecast that "mainly cold and dry weather" is expected in most parts of the country for the rest of this week, although some parts of Balochistan and Kashmir should expect to see "snowfall over hills".

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His soldier son toured Afghanistan with insurgents in his crosshairs, but American traveller Oscar Wells has a different objective -- sight-seeing promoted by the Taliban's fledgling tourism sector.

"It is a unique place, it touches my heart," the 65-year-old Indiana farmer told AFP, praising "its magnificent mountains" with "people living in the old way".

Marvelling at the 15th century Blue Mosque in northern Mazar-i-Sharif, Wells is among a small but rising number of travellers coming to Afghanistan since the war's end.

Decades of conflict made tourism extremely rare, and while most violence has now abated, visitors are confronted with extreme poverty, dilapidated cultural sites and scant hospitality infrastructure.

They holiday under the austere control of Taliban authorities, without consular support after most embassies were evacuated following the fall of the Western-backed government in 2021.

They must register with officials on arrival in each province, comply with a strict dress code and submit to searches at checkpoints by men armed with Kalashnikovs.

Islamic State attacks also still pose a potential threat in the country.

"The first thing your loved ones say is: 'You're crazy to go there!'" said French tourist Didier Goudant, a 57-year-old lawyer, of a country that Western governments warn against visiting.

Security concerns worried Nayuree Chainton, the 45-year-old Thai owner of a travel agency in Bangkok, who made a trip for six days recently with a group to test the waters.

"I feel safe despite the checkpoints in the cities," she said, during a visit to a shrine in the capital Kabul.

- 'Sharing a good image' -

The number of foreign tourists visiting Afghanistan rose 120 percent year-on-year in 2023, reaching nearly 5,200, according to official figures.

The Taliban government has yet to be officially recognised by any country -- in part because of its heavy restrictions on women -- but it has welcomed foreign tourism.

"Afghanistan's enemies don't present the country in a good light," said information and culture minister Khairullah Khairkhwa.

"But if these people come and see what it's really like... they will definitely share a good image of it," he said.

But Wells and Goudant -- on a trip with firm Untamed Borders, which also offers tours of Syria and Somalia -- describe their visit as a way to connect with Afghanistan's people.

Tourists "like us are curious and want to be in contact with the population, to try to help them a little" said Goudant, on his second trip, which included skiing in central Bamiyan province.

He said part of his visits is making donations to local groups, something he describes as "small-scale humanitarian work" in a country that has seen foreign aid drastically shrink since the Taliban takeover.

For Wells, there is a "sense of guilt for the departure" of US troops.

"I really felt we had a horrible exit, it created such a vacuum and disaster," he said. "It's good to help these people and keep relations."

- 'Bittersweet' -

Untamed Borders brought around 100 tourists to Afghanistan last year, with a nine-day package starting in neighbouring Pakistan costing $2,850.

The end of the fighting means tourists "can do more things", said founder James Willcox.

"But on the other hand it is disruptive," he added, noting a woman tour guide with the company fled to Italy after the Taliban return.

While the Taliban government has shut girls and women out of education, and much of public life, foreign women are granted greater freedoms.

For solo traveller Stefanie Meier, a 53-year-old American, who spent a month travelling from Kabul to Kandahar via Bamiyan and Herat in the west, it was a "bittersweet experience".

"I have been able to meet people I never thought I would meet, who told me about their life," she said, adding that she didn't face any issues as a woman on her own. 

She experienced "disbelief that people have to live like this", she added. "The poverty, there are no jobs, women not being able to go to school, no future for them".

With little by way of official information, tourists band together on social media and messaging apps to trade tips.

While two airlines serve Afghanistan's major cities, backpackers prefer the bus, and don't shy away from the 20-hour journey from Kabul to Herat.

An active WhatsApp group named Afghanistan Travel Experience brings together over 600 people from places as far flung as Mexico, India and Italy who are already in the country or on their way out.

They pepper the group with questions, such as one from user Alberto asking if it is "haram" (not allowed) to travel with a dog, or if it's a problem to have visible tattoos.

Another, Soo, asked: "Is there a co-working space in Mazar"?

pt-qb/sw/jts/mca

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Tensions high after Pakistan launches cross-border attacks into Afghanistan

Taliban claims to have fired across border following air raids targeting Pakistani Taliban.

Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan has launched overnight air attacks inside Afghanistan, while the Taliban claimed hours later to have fired across the border.

Tensions flared on Monday between Islamabad and Kabul following the overnight raids. Pakistan said the attack had targeted armed groups hiding out in border regions. The Taliban said eight women and children were killed.

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The Afghan defence ministry claimed later on Monday to have fired across the border at Pakistan positions. Islamabad has not yet commented on the claim.

Pakistani military and foreign ministry sources confirmed to Al Jazeera that the “retaliatory” attacks had targeted the hideouts of commanders of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Pakistani Taliban, due to “terrorist activities being sponsored and conducted from across border”.

They offered few details. However, on Saturday , a group of suicide bombers targeted a military check post in Pakistan’s North Waziristan district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which neighbours Afghanistan, killing seven soldiers.

Afghanistan’s interim government said the Pakistani jets had hit the houses of “ordinary people” in Paktika and Khost provinces. They reported that at least eight people were killed; five women and three children.

In a statement issued on X, government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the individual Pakistan claimed to have targeted continues to live in Pakistan.

Kabul “strongly condemns” the “reckless action” which is a violation of Afghanistan territory, he continued.

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, which has a long experience of freedom struggle against the superpowers of the world, does not allow anyone to invade its territory,” the post read.

په افغانستان باندې د پاکستاني الوتکو د تجاوز په اړه د اسلامي امارت د ویاند څرګندونې https://t.co/pbCqKiJF36 pic.twitter.com/OZYsWWojLh — Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) March 18, 2024

Tension has risen between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the Taliban government seized power in 2021. Islamabad claims that hostile armed groups carry out regular attacks from across the border.

Afghanistan reported in April 2022 that Pakistani air strikes in the east of the country killed 47 people.

Analysts suggest that Monday’s strike can be linked to the suicide attack two days ago, which was claimed by a newly formed group, Jaish-e-Fursan-e-Muhammad, which is led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, leader of a Pakistani Taliban faction based in North Waziristan.

In response, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif repeated the claim that armed groups are using Afghan soil from which to launch terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.

“Terrorism against us is mostly being conducted from Afghanistan,” he said on Sunday.

It’s a charge the Afghan Taliban has repeatedly denied.

“We reject the presence of any … foreign groups in Afghanistan and they are not allowed to operate on Afghan soil. In this regard, we have made our utmost effort and continue to do so; but one thing we must accept is that Afghanistan shares a very long border area with Pakistan, and there are places with rugged terrain including mountains and forests, and places that might be out of our control,” Mujahid said in response.

Bloody year

Last year was bloody in Pakistan, with more than 650 attacks reported across the country, resulting in the deaths of nearly 1,000 people, most of whom were security personnel.

Most attacks targeted the western provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which border Afghanistan.

While there have been various armed groups which have conducted acts of violence in Pakistan, the state’s main adversary has been the TTP, which is ideologically aligned with the Afghan Taliban.

Since its founding in 2007, the TTP has targeted civilians and law enforcement personnel in Pakistan, resulting in thousands of deaths.

The group demands the imposition of their hardline interpretation of Islamic laws, as well as a reversal of Pakistan’s decision to merge their tribal areas with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Abdul Sayed, a Sweden-based researcher on armed groups in South and Central Asia, says Pakistan’s air strikes on Monday appear to be a response to the suicide attack two days previously.

“The attack in North Waziristan was extraordinarily large, reportedly involving six suicide bombers and a large truck bomb. The presence of top Pakistani officials, including the president and army chief, at the funerals, suggested potential future cross-border actions by Pakistan,” he told Al Jazeera.

Muhammad Amir Rana, an Islamabad-based security analyst and director of the Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS) says it is not unusual for the TTP or other armed groups to launch attacks during the month of Ramadan.

“The state institutions have now adopted a tit-for-tat response to any threats. The Taliban are known to support the TTP, and there have been instances of their own members being involved in attacks in Pakistan,” he told Al Jazeera.

It has also been noted that the sharp response of Pakistan against targets in Afghanistan is similar in nature to its reaction to January’s cross-border attacks by Iran .

However, Rana suggests that the possibility of retaliatory attacks on targets in Pakistan following Monday’s air raids cannot be dismissed.

“Unless diplomatic channels are activated, tensions between the two countries are likely to escalate in the coming weeks,” he cautioned.