ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Friday inaugurated the Pakistan Tourism and Culture Festival at the Islamabad Sports Complex, with participants from 20 countries attending the event.
Around 200 stalls have been set up at the festival, showcasing the cultural heritage, traditions and tourist attractions of participating countries, including China, Indonesia, Nepal, Palestine, Turkiye, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Rwanda, Iran, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam and Brunei.
The festival features a variety of activities, including tent pegging, a marathon and paragliding, along with cultural exhibitions and displays highlighting the traditions of participating countries.
Speaking to the media at the opening ceremony, Minister Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan had immense tourism potential, with its natural beauty, diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage offering numerous opportunities for visitors.
He said the hospitality of the Pakistani people was one of the country’s distinctive strengths and that the government was committed to developing the tourism sector and promoting Pakistan as an attractive international destination.
The minister stressed the need to present Pakistan to the world as a unified tourism destination and called for a comprehensive strategy to fully utilise the country’s tourism potential.
He also emphasised stronger coordination among the provinces to promote tourism and sports, saying that events such as the Pakistan Tourism, Sports and Family Festival could help achieve these objectives.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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