Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal inaugurated Pakistan’s largest Tourism, Sports and Family Festival on Friday at the Islamabad Sports Complex. He was joined at the opening by Aftab-ur-Rehman Rana, the Managing Director of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC).
The festival, which runs until November 8, is designed to showcase Pakistan's cultural diversity, traditional cuisine, handicrafts, and tourism potential. Attendees can view cultural stalls representing all provinces, which highlight distinctive heritage, lifestyles, and traditions. Major attractions include stalls featuring traditional Pakistani food, products from well-known brands, and handicrafts created by artisans from across the nation.
During a visit to the stalls, Professor Ahsan Iqbal told the media that Pakistan possesses vast opportunities in tourism, noting that the hospitality of its people distinguishes the country on an international level. He stated that the government is committed to developing the tourism sector and stressed the necessity of introducing Pakistan to the world as a unified tourism destination.
The minister noted that while Pakistan is blessed with natural beauty and abundant tourism resources, an effective strategy is required to fully capitalize on that potential. He stated that tourism will serve as an important pillar in the vision to transform Pakistan into a $1 trillion economy by 2035.
Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that better coordination among provinces is needed to promote sports and tourism. He described events like the Pakistan Tourism, Sports and Family Festival as essential initiatives for bringing people together and showcasing the country's potential. The event will continue through November 8 with concerts, musical evenings, fireworks, flying lanterns, and various sports competitions.
