ISLAMABAD: Indonesian Ambassador Adam M. Tugio on Sunday said Murree could be counted among the most beautiful regions in the world as its natural beauty had the potential to compete with any major tourist spot.

He said the hill station and Indonesia’s Bali could be called sister cities, for which the two governments should start talking to promote tourism on both sides.

Speaking to journalists and the local business community in Murree, Mr Tugio said Pakistan and Indonesia had historical, religious and cultural relations.

Pakistan has had friendship with Indonesia since the early years of independence, which can be gauged from the fact that 600 soldiers from Pakistan participated in the freedom struggle of Indonesia, with some even sacrificing their lives, he said.

Mr Tugio said the founder of Indonesia Sukarno and the founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had a personal friendship, and this was evident from the similarities between the Jinnah cap and Sukarno cap.

He said Allama Iqbal was equally popular in Indonesia and his poetry had an influence on many movements in the country.

The ambassador said Indonesia announced scholarships for students every year and this year too they would be awarded in the same way.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2023