According to the World Tourism Organization of the United Nations, Pakistan was named the best-performing destination for tourism during the first nine months of 2023. This is a significant achievement for Pakistan, as it has been toiling to boost its tourism industry in recent years. This industry, which has an immense potential to attract travellers from across the world, has been growing steadily. Besides its geography as a valuable asset, Pakistanis bestowed with a spectacular landscape and rich cultural heritage, complemented by its peace-loving people and warm hospitality. The recognition by the World Tourism Organization is a testament to Pakistan’s tourism potential.
Today, tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries. Looking at the immense dividends tourism brings to a country, every nation of the world endeavours to attract as many tourists as it can. For Pakistan too, this sector offers great benefits. For quite some years, its economy has been in the doldrums, which needs a powerful boost to stay afloat. Moreover, some malign agents are lurking to tarnish this country’s image. Therefore, for Pakistan, it is imperative to unleash the venues for tourism to boost its GDP and improve the country’s image worldwide. There is no denying that there are few countries that can match the tourism potentials that nature has bestowed upon this land of the pure. Let’s discuss the potential venues for tourism in Pakistan.
To begin with, the high and mighty mountains in the north make Pakistan an enviable entity for many countries. Pakistan’s north is the meeting point of the majestic Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Hindu Kush. It is home to the world’s second-highest peak, the K2.Five of the 14 peaks above 8,000 meters are situated in Pakistan. The world’s highest ATM also resides in the snow-capped mountains in the Khunjerab Pass of Pakistan. The Siachan Glacier, the longest glacier in the Karakoram and second-highest in the world’s non-polar regions, which is also the highest battleground on earth, is located in Pakistan. In fact, with 7,253 known glaciers, Pakistan has more glaciers than almost anywhere on Earth outside the Polar Regions. All this, along with the captivating landscape decorated by gorgeous ridges, fabled lakes, high-altitude meadows and scenic passes, allures tourists from all over the world.
Secondly, Pakistan, whose inhabitants believe in religious freedom and harmony, is a bastion of major religions. Pakistan has rich Buddhist heritage sites, particularly in the Gandhara region of Mardan, Takht-i-Bahi, Taxila and Swat. These sites, along with the Diplomatic Enclave Temple, the only functional Buddhist temple in Pakistan, which is used by Buddhist diplomats in Islamabad, attract Buddhist followers from across the world. Pakistan also has considerable holy sites of the Sikh religion. The Nankana Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib and Punja Sahib attract Sikh Yatrees in thousands annually. Sikhs from Indian Punjab have a great religious affinity for these gurdwaras. Finally, the Sufi shrines of various Sufi saints—notable shrines of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Bahauddin Zakariya, Sachal Sarmast, Baba Bulley Shah, Baba Farid Ganj Shakar and Data Darbar—attract spiritual pilgrims from the Muslim world.
Thirdly, Pakistani territory harbours many historical, archaeological and cultural heritage sites. Archeological sites at Moenjodaro, the Buddhist ruins of Takh-i-Bahi, the Fort and Shalamar garden in Lahore, the Rohtas Fort built by Sher Shah Suri, Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta and the ancient city of Taxila are places in Pakistan that have been named UNESCO World Heritage sites. Additionally, Wazir Khan Mosque, Minar-e-Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Mausoleum, Khyber Pass, Derawar Fort, etc. also enrich the cultural and historical assets of Pakistan. Along with this, Pakistan has a great Mughal heritage in art, literature, and architecture.
Fourthly, nature has bestowed Pakistan with incredible biodiversity, along with a wide range of ecosystems, which offers great opportunities for eco-tourism. From the riverine forest in the east to the sandy desert in Sindh and Punjab to the Indus River delta to the mountainous ranges in the north, the varied topography and climate have fostered remarkable wildlife and natural habitats in Pakistan. Visitors enjoy the varied local flora and fauna, which creates a soothing effect on the mind. In this regard, biodiversity tourism offers safaris, trout fishing, bird watching, hunting, etc.
Lastly, the coastal areas of Pakistan offer fascinating spots for tourists. It has a long coastline with beautiful beaches, islands and coastal towns that offer a diverse range of tourism opportunities. Clifton Beach (Karachi), Paradise Point (Karachi), Manora Island (Karachi), Gadani Beach (Balochistan), Ormara Beach (Balochistan), and Astola Island (Balochistan) are but a few of the coastal beaches that offer a range of activities like beach relaxation, swimming, surfing, diving, island hopping, and marine life exploration etc.
Thus, it is crystal clear from the above discourse that Pakistan has enough tourism potential, which can boost the country’s sagging economy and uplift its international image. As Stephen Cohen states, “While history has been unkind with Pakistan, its geography has been its greatest benefit.” To put this quote in perspective, the geography of Pakistan is a treasure trove of tourism opportunities, along with offering other benefits. Therefore, now is the time to showcase Pakistan’s tourism potential to the world and attract travellers to explore its hidden gems!
—The writer is currently serving as a lecturer in KP government.
