ISLAMABAD: The government on Saturday said the first ever three-day international conference on tourism would start on July 11 in the capital.

Speaking at the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA), Minister of State and Prime Minister’s Task Force on Gandhara Tourism Chairman Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani said the international conference would generate revenue.

“We would welcome and highly appreciate foreign dignitaries and facilitate them in every respect, including safety, security, visas, transportation and accommodation in Pakistan,” he said.

“The conference will pave the way to promote a soft image of the country at international level,” he added.

Mr Vankwani said Pakistan was home to a multitude of heritage sites, monuments and historic buildings, which demonstrated the diverse layers of history of the region.

Visualising the immense potential in tourism around Gandhara civilisation, the Prime Minister Task Force was making efforts to promote Gandhara tourism in the country, he said, adding that religious sites of Hinduism and Buddhism could be found in the capital and other parts of the country.

He stressed the need to develop positive image of the country internationally as Pakistan was a peaceful and peace-loving country.

The minister said: “I have written columns in national newspapers in English, Urdu and Sindhi besides taking part in talk shows on national and foreign media to inform the local and foreign dignitaries about rich potential of tourism in the country.”

He said the Prime Minister Task Force had arranged a series of visits to various cultural and historical sites, including Shah Allah Ditta, Takht-i-Bai, and Swat on every Wednesday within a month to promote sacred sites and monuments built during the Gandara era.

In the end, Taxila odyssey cultural show, Kelash dance, Leva performance, mantra performance and folk performance by Jehangir Sagar entertained the participants.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2023