Iranian delegation visits PTDC to explore possibilities of cooperation in tourism

RAWALPINDI: A 11-member Iranian delegation headed by Syed Hamid Mousvi, Deputy Governor for Pilgrims Affairs Khorasan here on Wednesday visited Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC),  Head Office.

The delegation in a meeting with Managing Director, PTDC, Chaudhary Abdul Ghafoor, officers of PTDC and private sector representatives discussed how the bilateral ties in tourism could be promoted and tried to explore the possibilities of cooperation in the field of tourism.

Ch. Abdul Ghafoor addressing the participants said that Pakistan and Iran are brotherly countries and bilateral relations between both the countries are good while efforts should be made to promote cooperation in the field of tourism which would help further enhance bilateral ties.

He said, PTDC is striving hard to improve religious tourism, Eco Tourism, Sports Tourism and Health Tourism.

He said, Pakistan and Iran mutually enjoy excellent bilateral relations. Being the neighbouring country, Iran always extended all possible cooperation and supported Pakistan in all spheres and fields of life and worked for promotion and prosperity in the best interests of both the countries.

Pakistan and Iran enjoyed membership of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD), the third partner of this Organization was Turkey, he added.

This tripartite participation by Pakistan, Iran and Turkey had further strengthened the cooperation among the brotherly countries. Being the common faith and interfaith harmony, the people of these countries annually visited each other places of interest/tourist destinations and shrines exist in these countries for sightseeing and for paying homage as pilgrims to sacred shrines of religious harbingers and the tombs of the saints’ at large scales, he said.

Ch. Ghafoor said, the sentiments of the people of both the countries were held in high esteem by their respective governments and diplomatic ties, mostly on the foundation of their common values, traditions, cultural and religious aspects and common realities.

The existing interlink between both the countries further enhanced their interactions in trade and commercial activities and people to people contacts.

The tour Operators and Travel agents of both the countries should organize tourism related exhibitions, festivals and seminars to introduce their products and to explore more and more possibilities to exchange a variety of tour packages and programmes which may help give impetus to the existing relationship, the MD said.

Both sides have focused to encourage exchange of youth delegations with each other so that the current ties may be further cemented, he said adding, the visits of youth of both sides could help promote adventure, cultural, sports and tourism activities at massive scale.

Syed Hamid Musvi on the occasion said, huge potential lies in tourism particularly in religious, health, economic and sightseeing, if it was promoted, would help improve bilateral relations further.

People to people contacts should be enhanced and both the governments taking the private sector on board should make concerted efforts in this regard, he added.

He said, leadership of Pakistan and Iran striving to improve bilateral relations further. “We should also focus tourism and make efforts to facilitate tourists. Special packages for the tourists should be introduced,” he added.

Syed Hamid Musvi said, efforts should be made to curtail hurdles in the way of promotion of tourism.

He said, recently a MoU was signed between the Railways of both the countries and hoped that the passengers train service would start soon which would facilitate tourists of Pakistan and Iran.

He informed that a new crossing point at Pakistan and Iran border was to be opened soon to enhance people to people contact. Sea passenger transport route between Karachi and Chabahar (Iran) could also be opened, he added.