ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan have rich cultural heritage and tourism opportunities. Both the countries should explore joint ventures and collaborative initiatives through social and business interaction.

This was stated by ambassador extraordinary of the Kyrgyzstan Republic Totuiaev Ulanbek Asankulovich while talking to founder of Pakistan Mountain Festival Munir Ahmed who called on him.

He said more than 23,000 tourists visited Kyrgyzstan for sightseeing last year while more than 200 Pakistani businessmen were supported to participate in trade and business forums in Kyrgyzstan.

He said more than 10,000 Pakistani students are studying in Kyrgyzstan.

The ambassador said Gilgit-Baltistan is the favourite place for the Kyrgyzstan nomadic tribes who regularly visit GB towns when harsh weather strikes their hometowns.

About two Kyrgyz nomads still live in the high mountain towns in Pakistan.

“We have traditional routes for trade and tourism that we need to explore and revive again for socioeconomic benefits for both the countries,” the ambassador said.

Munir Ahmed briefed the Kyrgyz envoy about their climate change and mountain advocacy initiatives since 2002 – the International Year of Mountain. He said changing climate is the common enemy of all the living creatures on the planet earth especially its impact is more dangerous to the developing economies and marginalised mountain communities.

He thanked the Kyrgyz government for moving the resolution in the 2021 UN General Assembly to adopt 2022 as the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development.

He said about four months of 2022 have passed but we see nothing on the rights of mountain communities, conservation of natural resources.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2022