MITHI: Newly appointed Italian Consul General in Karachi Danilo Giurdanella and his spouse arrived in Thar on Monday to visit heritage sites and scenic beauty of the desert region.

The guests thanked their host, Sindh Minister for Culture and Tourism Syed Sardar Ali Shah, for providing them an opportunity to meet amazing people of Thar, receive exemplary respect and see wonderful historical and natural sites.

Mr Giurdanella said that during their stay in Umerkot and Tharparkar districts they were treated to exquisite performance by local singers Mai Dhai and Ustad Yousuf Fakeer, at Kasbo village.

The minister told reporters that the department was making sincere efforts to promote tourism and culture in the desert region. In future he would invite envoys of other countries as well to visit Thar, he said.

He said that the Italian guests had reached Thar on his invitation and they were very much impressed by the beauty, culture, music and art of the region. Sindh government planned to establish more resorts and roads leading to tourist sites in Thar, he said.

He said the Italian government had already extended cooperation to the department in protecting heritage sites at Bhambhore and hoped they would continue the cooperation in future as well to promote tourism and ancient heritage sites in Thar.

He said the new consul general, who took keen interest in art, music, handicrafts and cultural events, would keep visiting Thar and other historical sites in Sindh. The department was devising many plans to promote tourism and rich culture of Thar in coming years, he said.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2020