Tourism is a growing industry in Pakistan and with more foreign investment and funding flowing in, including from Saudi Arabia, the country has been able to develop infrastructure.
It has now built major road and air networks to cater for the mass movement of cargo and inter-city travel. Roads are being developed by several consultants from the Northern Areas all the way down to the Port of Karachi.
Often described as the “next big thing” of the tourism industry, tourism in Pakistan, with its diverse culture, people and landscapes, attracted 1 million tourists last year, which is expected to grow further by the end of this year. The main destinations of choice for these tourists are the Khyber Pass, Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore, Swat and Rawalpindi.
In its bid to promote tourism in the recent past, Pakistan, which has unique and varied cultural heritage, launched a campaign in 2007 called “Visit Pakistan,” which involved various events throughout the year including fairs and religious festivals, regional sporting events, various arts and craft shows, folk festivals and several openings of historical museums. Consequently, the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report published in 2009 ranked Pakistan as one of the top 25 percent tourist destinations for its World Heritage sites.
Pakistan enjoys good tourism relations with Saudi Arabia and religious and cultural tourism form a major part of their cordial relation.
Enthusiasm is growing among the younger generation in Pakistan to perform Haj and Umrah, and according to a recent survey by a Pakistani media, every 10th person seen in Holy Ka’ba or Masjid-i-Nabvi in Madinah is a Pakistani. Urdu and Punjabi speakers wearing shalwar kameez or western suits can be seen all around.
Saudis too visit Pakistan in substantial numbers. The tourist’s attraction in the country ranges from the ruins of the historical sites of Harappan civilization mainly at its two megapolis Harappa and Mohenjo-daro and the site of one of the most ancient university in the world at Taxila, to the Himalayan hill stations, which attract those interested in winter sports.
Pakistan is also home to several mountain peaks towering over 7,000 meters, which attracts adventurers and mountaineers from around the world, especially K2, the second highest peak in the world after Mt. Everest.
The northern part of Pakistan has many old fortresses, ancient architecture and the Hunza and Chitral valley, home to small pre-Islamic Animist Kalasha community claiming to be descendants of Alexander the Great.
The romance of the historic Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is timeless and legendry. Punjab province boasts of the site of Alexander’s battle on the Jhelum River and the historic city Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural capital, with many examples of Mughal art and architecture such as Badshahi Masjid, Shalimar Gardens, Tomb of Jahangir and the Lahore Fort.
The Saudi Government has provided extensive religious and educational aid to Pakistan, being a major contributor to the construction of mosques and madrassas (Islamic seminaries) across Pakistan, and one of the major tourist destination in Pakistan — the Faisal Mosque (dedicated to King Faisal) in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, is the epitome of growing cultural ties between the Kingdom and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Responding to the rich support provided by the Kingdom, Pakistan renamed one of its major cities Lyallpur as Faisalabad in honor of King Faisal in 1977. Saudi Arabia was also a major supporter of the “Islamization” program of the Pakistani military ruler General Zia-ul-Haq in the 1970s.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia remains a major destination for immigration amongst Pakistanis, whose numbers in Saudi Arabia stands between 900,000 and 1 million.
Strengthening the cultural ties, Pakistan also conferred King Abdullah with their highest civilian decoration, Nishan-e-Pakistan, in 2006. President General Pervez Musharraf conferred the highest civilian award of the country in recognition of his outstanding contribution to development of greater understanding and co-operation between the two countries.
Recently a non-governmental organization was also launched to promote education, trade, investment and tourism between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in Islamabad. Besides promoting economic and cultural ties with the Kingdom, the NGO will also facilitate the exchange of visits of educationists between the two countries.
The reason for Pakistan being a major tourist destination is because of the multiple attractions in the country. The diverse culture, traditions, historical places, beautiful valleys like Swat and Murree, a popular hill station and a summer resort for tourists are all factors behind Pakistan being an attractive tourist spot.
Historic places such as Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa and Taxila attract archaeologists from all over the world to come and visit the wonderful historic civilizations which are a part of Pakistan.
Other than these, the valleys of Pakistan have been able to attract tourists for a long period of time. These are Swat, Hunza , Naran, Kaghan and beautiful hills like Murree, Nathia Gali, and Changa Gali.
The major cities of Pakistan are not behind when it comes to attracting foreign tourists. All of them have different aspects which define Pakistani culture and traditions. Lahore is Pakistan’s second largest city and it is home to a large number of cultural places which has given it the title of being the cultural heart of the country.
The province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is known for its bountiful nature including valleys and plains. The Karakoram highway is also located in the vicinity of the province. Other cities like Karachi which is the largest city of Pakistan is the business center and commercial capital of the country. It is the city of Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his mausoleum is an attractive tourist spot. It is known for its beautiful and luxurious hotels such as the Pearl Continental, Marriot and Sheraton.
The government of Pakistan is trying to attract more tourists to Pakistan by initiating the sponsorship of new businesses within the tourist market and building and maintaining road and air networks to meet international standards.
The vast human and natural resources can also contribute to the development of this growing industry as advertising campaigns need to attract tourist by developing holiday packages tailored to explore the great regions of the country.
Saudis help growth in Pak tourism
Saudis help growth in Pak tourism
Saudi authorities seize drugs, arrest two suspects in Riyadh
- Authorities sezied 35 kg of hashish and 32,338 controlled medical tablets
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s drug control authority seized quantities of narcotics and arrested two suspects for drug promotion in Riyadh on Tuesday.
The General Directorate of Narcotics Control reported the seizure of 35 kg of hashish, 32,338 controlled medical tablets, as well as amphetamine and methamphetamine drugs.
It said that it had arrested two suspects in the case — a Syrian resident and a national — in Riyadh’s region, and referred them to prosecution, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Saudi security authorities are urging people to report any activities related to drug smuggling or promotion by calling 911 in the Makkah, Riyadh and Eastern Province regions, and 999 in the rest of the Kingdom.
Alternatively, information can be emailed to [email protected]. All reports are treated in confidence.
KSrelief concludes urology surgery project in Yemen
- Project included nine volunteers from different medical specialties
- KSrelief medical team successfully performed 109 specialized urology surgeries
RIYADH: King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has completed a medical project for urology surgeries in Yemen’s Aden governorate.
The project included nine volunteers from different medical specialties and was carried out from Dec. 15-22 in collaboration with the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen.
The KSrelief medical team examined 53 cases and successfully performed 109 specialized surgeries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
KSrelief’s project is one of Saudi Arabia’s medical initiatives to assist the Yemeni people and ease their suffering amid the humanitarian crisis.
Saudi interior minister rewards winners of King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival
- Prince Abdulaziz awarded the prestigious King’s Sword to falconers Barghash Mohammed Al-Mansouri and Faisal Al-Qahtani
- He honored the winners of the festival’s elite rounds with King Abdulaziz Cup
RIYADH: Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, Saudi minister of interior and chairman of the Saudi Falcons Club, honored on Tuesday the winners of the 2024 King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival.
Prince Abdulaziz awarded the prestigious King’s Sword to falconers Barghash Mohammed Al-Mansouri and Faisal Al-Qahtani, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
He also honored the winners of the festival’s elite rounds, who received the King Abdulaziz Cup. The champions included Al-Mansouri, Amin Abdullah Al-Mallah, Mohammed Hafez Al-Marri, Fahd Mohammed Al-Mansouri, Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Buainain, and Hamid Mohammed Al-Mansouri, the SPA added.
Additional awards were given to winners in the Mazayen falcon beauty pageant, covering both amateur and professional rounds, the SPA reported.
Prince Abdulaziz also honored the sponsors of the 2024 Saudi Falcons Club events at the end of the ceremony.
King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival was held from Dec. 3-19 at the club’s headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh.
The event drew 1,032 falconers from nine countries, including 160 international participants, and showcased 3,322 falcons from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE and Italy.
The festival featured 138 rounds in Al-Malwah, highlighting falcon speed and talent, along with Mazayen competitions. It awarded more than SR 36 million ($9.6 million) in prizes, marking a record-breaking year for the festival.
Festival in Riyadh finds Common Ground between Iraqi and Saudi cultures
- We are ‘all one culture, one society and one message,’ says Iraqi official
RIYADH: From heritage to long-standing traditions, the deep connections between Iraq and Saudi Arabia span thousands of years to the pre-Islamic era.
The second Common Ground festival, an initiative by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, is an immersion in the bonds of the two nations through art, cuisine and performance.
Alataf Ebrahim, the head of the festival department at the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, told Arab News: “Baghdad and all the Iraqi governorates are passionate about embracing Saudi culture. While the event is called Common Ground, with pride, we say that we are all one culture, one society and one message.
“This is a big and very important event, and the project is bold for planning and drawing joint cultural events now, and in the future. As the Ministry of Culture, this venture has been initiated for two years and we plan on having Saudi cultural nights in Baghdad as well as in 2025.”
HIGHLIGHT
Common Ground festival features an exhibition dedicated to the history of traditional clothing, musical instruments, songs, and significant cultural figures of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
One of the main festival attractions is Al-Mutanabbi Street, which is recreated based on the historical road in Baghdad along with its iconic main gate. The renowned hub for intellectual life hosts various bookstores, clothing stores, live painting and oud performances, and panel discussions around various cultural crossovers.
In the heart of the bookshop district is one of Baghdad’s oldest coffee shops, Shabandar cafe, which opened its doors over a century ago and has since become a landmark in the city. The establishment has born witness to the twists and tragedies of Iraq’s tumultuous history.
“Shabandar cafe is an open corner for poets and intellectuals, and visitors as well, as they read about the latest cultural news through physical newspapers that are always on each table. This area is where the most prominent cultural activities in the capital (take place),” Ebrahim explained.
Al-Mutanabbi’s poems are also honored through 10, 3-meter-high scrolls. The works are written in a font that has the characteristics of the 4th century in the style of Ibn Al-Bawwab, the famous calligrapher who was born about a year after Al-Mutanabbi’s death.
“We’re presenting a mini cultural week that encompasses many experiences, not just books and literature, but also extends to musical performances; and an absorption between the two cultures and deepening that relationship,” he added.
As the Ministry of Culture, this venture has been initiated for two years and we plan on having Saudi cultural nights in Baghdad as well in 2025.
Alataf Ebrahim, Iraqi Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities official
Visitors can also indulge in local delicacies from both countries while enjoying the live folk music and dance performances that take place twice daily on the main stage.
The festival’s concert series featured an iconic performance by Iraqi singer Kadim Alsahir on the opening day, and a joint oud performance by Saudi singer and songwriter Abadi Al-Johar and Iraqi artist Naseer Shamma on Dec. 21.
The last show of the series will be on Dec. 25, featuring Aseel Hameem and Nawaf Al-Jabarti.
Over 100 artworks are on display at the “Beneath the Gaze of the Palms” exhibition, which examines questions of identity and heritage in Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The showcase includes Islamic, Mesopotamian and contemporary art.
At the entrance of the exhibition is a large structure known as the Mudhif, which is a traditional reed house, particularly in the Al-Ahwar region of southern Iraq. It is a type of communal guesthouse or gathering space that plays a central role in the social and hospitality traditions of the region.
A large part of the exhibition highlights Darb Zubaida, one of the historical pilgrimage routes from the city of Kufa to Makkah that not only facilitated the movement of people, goods, and ideas but also played a crucial role in the cultural and religious life of the Islamic world.
“This road became a place for exchanging ideas with our communities in the Kingdom. Saudi poetry and handicrafts were transferred to Iraq while Iraqi literary and cultural heritage was transferred to Saudi Arabia.
“This is an important aspect of the exhibition, alongside the many artworks that spotlight the traditional, modern, and contemporary art and the traditional tales that are embodied by the contributions of the participating artists.”
The festival also features an exhibition dedicated to the history of traditional clothing, musical instruments, songs, and significant cultural figures of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
The festival, which runs until Dec. 31, is being held at Mega Studio in Riyadh’s Boulevard City.
Creative youth collective hosts art auction in Jeddah with jazz, community spirit
- One of Nama’s key collaborators, Mohammad Aboalola, founder and writer at Mena Youth Magazine, expressed his admiration for the collective’s approach: “Nama and Menayouth struck a chord in terms of their values and vision
JEDDAH: Nama, a new collective dedicated to empowering young creatives, hosted its first event in Jeddah this week at the bustling Huna Alhabib.
The two-day Jazz Night and Silent Art Auction was a display of the power of collaboration and a cultural celebration.
Nama’s debut featured more than 30 pieces by artists from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Spain, Canada, and beyond. These works were donated specifically for the auction to bridge artistic communities across borders.
Jana Abdulaziz, Nama’s founder and director, told Arab News: “For the longest time, Nama was nothing more than an online group of about a dozen high schoolers that joined solely off the identity statement I wrote. No logo, no solid plans, just an idea.
“I remember a couple months in with next to no progress almost giving up the idea of having an event or Nama becoming anything. I reached out to potential sponsors and hundreds of local and international artists from my personal accounts as a last-ditch effort, expecting nothing ... and to my surprise, people did.”
With the participation of 15-plus local brands and businesses as vendors, the event was much more than an art exhibition. Visitors enjoyed an immersive experience complete with live jazz and blues performances, as well as an artist sketching portraits of guests.
The event seems to have resonated with artists and attendees alike. Yousef Zaini, a local artist and artwork donor, said: “As an artist, my work is intended to invoke emotions, raise questions, and offer perspectives. I borrow heavily from my readings in philosophy.
“I’m honored to work with Nama and showcase my works and share the philosophies they embody. The event organized by Nama was a great mix and I am eager to collaborate with them in the future. Much better is to come.”
French-Tunisian artist E. L. Seed donated one of his lithographs to Nama, describing it as a valuable opportunity. He said that participating in Nama was a chance to support the event and inspire young artists, emphasizing that no event is too big or small when it comes to reaching art enthusiasts, especially in Jeddah.
The idea for Nama came to Abdulaziz in late 2023. Despite initial setbacks, her determination and passion brought the project to life. The seamless blend of jazz music and visual art has created an atmosphere that elevated creativity and engagement, bringing people together to celebrate the cultural richness of the region.
Jwan Abdulhafeez, Nama’s head of media, said: “We wanted our launch event to be more than just an auction, we envisioned a true celebration of art, culture, and fun. The evening featured a carefully curated silent art auction that showcased emerging talent while creating an atmosphere of sophistication with live jazz performances.
“Through the silent art auction, we were able to connect talented artists with art enthusiasts, creating meaningful relationships within our community.”
The auction was a celebration of global perspectives and artistic diversity, featuring works from renowned artists while providing a platform for young creatives to share their stories and build connections in the art world.
One of Nama’s key collaborators, Mohammad Aboalola, founder and writer at Mena Youth Magazine, expressed his admiration for the collective’s approach: “Nama and Menayouth struck a chord in terms of their values and vision. When Nama approached Menayouth for us to help with managing media and activities, their approach to things proved that they have ultimate care for who they work with. They came up to us offering to deal with the event as if it was our own.”
