The flow of world tourists to Pakistan has remained steady over the years. It is expected to mark a big improvement during 2007, which the country has declared as a year of tourism.
A sizable number of tourists from Saudi Arabia have been visiting Pakistan, a majority of them being businessmen and leisure travelers.
“We are confident of increasing the number of leisure travelers to Pakistan during the current Tourism Year,” a senior executive of PIA said. This was substantiated by the Pakistani mission, which has marked an increase in the number of visas issued in Riyadh and Jeddah for Saudi visitors.
The country has a lot to offer in terms of breathtaking scenic spots, diverse culture, history and architectural splendor. Its scenic beauty, mountains, culture, archaeological sites, historical places, deserts and handicrafts are always highlighted by Pakistan tourism officials whenever they tour the Kingdom or travel elsewhere in the region or world.
“There was no dearth of destinations of tourist interest in Pakistan, and we are promoting these through various means,” a visiting Pakistani government official said recently.
To attract foreign tourists, the ministry is working on various proposals to scale down the cost and also improve infrastructure, while adding hotels. “The country has been addressing these issues and expects to be successful in attracting large tourist numbers,” he added.
To that end, the government has been seeking international investment for the tourism industry. There are tremendous opportunities for foreign investment in tourism, particularly in developing tourist facilities. This was emphasized by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz recently. Certainly, the opportunities abound.
According to estimates, travel and tourism in Pakistan this year will generate $11 billion in economic activity, while accounting for six percent of GDP. The industry is expected to grow 6.7 percent this year and 5.2 percent per annum, in real terms, between 2008 and 2017 —- higher than world projections of four percent.
There a slew of hotels for high-end tourists. Tourists on a budget are also likely to find two- and three-star hotels, and guest houses whose numbers are also on the rise. Several of the motels run by the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation have been put on the government’s privatization list, too.
Aside from PIA’s network of flights between Pakistan’s various cities and overseas destinations, some new international airlines offer innumerable new routes to the Middle East. There is thus enough connectivity.
One can experience the desert extravaganza in Thar. tour operators make it a point to inform the visitor that a tour of Sindh is incomplete without adventures in the Thar desert.
Thar is over 28,000 square kilometers in area, surrounded by rising sand dunes. The desert has folklores, unique landscape, flora and fauna, and a culture of its own. It provides variety of opportunities to explore and an absorbing study of Sindhi culture.
Living in Thar is not so easy but is full of action and thrill for those tourists and visitors who take pains to discover and see new cultures, lifestyles and traditions, says Talib Fateh, a travel writer. The splendor inside Thar desert starts from the spectacular sun-rising and sun-setting scenes, camel caravans, grazing and traveling herds, big and small and sand dunes with thorny bushes, traditional dresses and jewelry, folk music and dances. Thar is a cultural island in the midst of Sindhi, Rajasthani and Gujrati ocean of cultures. Thari music is considered to be of vital importance in folk music of Pakistan.
In ancient times, Sindh housed the exemplary Indus Valley Civilization. It is now the land of a culture.
Among Pakistan’s little known destinations is Chiniot. The name is enough to start the furniture lovers and travelers dreaming. Antiquity is the first message of the town. And, international quality furniture “made in Chiniot” is the collector’s delight with potentials for marketing all over the world.
On the bank of River Chenab, in an area called Sandal Bar, Chiniot town is an exotic place at the foot of a series of hillocks that seem to be man made rather than evidence of old mountains.
The town is very ancient. It was inhabited before the time when Alexander of Macedonia came in the South Asia and was principal city during the rule of White Huns. Chinese explorer Hiuen Tsiang visited it. Alberuni has mentioned in Kitabul-Hind that Chiniot was one of the most important places in this part of the world.
Chiniot suffered much from the Durrani inroads during the last half of the eighteenth century and also during the troubles of I848 because it remained the scene of constant fierce struggle among the leaders of local factions. As per the local legend, a portion of the wall, surviving in situ, had been built during Hellenic period. The veracity of the wall’s association with Alexander the great is yet to be proven though.
During the Mogul era, Chiniot produced many intelligent personalities and talented artisans who occupied positions in the Mogul courts. Artisans of Chiniot have instinctive good taste and they have achieved a distinctive excellence in woodwork. Special type of furniture with brightly lacquered woodcarving is made in Chiniot and is famous all over the world.
