ON 9th and 10th May 2026, the Directorate of Tourism, Balochistan, organized the first-ever Conference on Tourism Policy Formulation for Balochistan at Serena Hotel, Quetta. Experts from within Balochistan and other provinces were invited to share insights on harnessing tourism potential. The author of this piece was also invited as an expert on Balochistan. Aftab Rana, a prominent tourism expert, stated in the conference that Balochistan has more potential in tourism than in minerals, a view that compelled the author to write this piece. The scintillating landscape of the province is entirely different from the rest of the provinces. Balochistan offers coastal, civilizational, railway, religious, wildlife, desert, alpine and adventure tourism, including Pir Ghayb and Chotok waterfalls.
The province is blessed with a 760 km-long coastline, having key ports such as Gwadar, Jiwani, Pasni and Sonmiani, with great potential to attract both inbound and outbound tourists. Balochistan holds some of the world’s most fertile marine ecosystems, producing more than 60 species of fish, rare sightings of the Arabian humpback whale and 10 varieties of prawns. The coastal attractions of Kund Malir Beach, located in Hingol National Park, are ranked among Asia’s top 50 beaches, enhancing the province’s natural beauty. Astola Island, most importantly known as the “Seven Hills of Pakistan,” is the largest island in the country and a huge asset for tourism.
Mehrgarh, a 9,000-year-old civilization site, provides vital insights into early human civilization. The Mehrgarh archaeological site attracts travelers to an area which is believed to be one of the oldest archaeological sites in South Asia, situated in the hills of the Bolan Pass in the northern Kachi plain of Balochistan. It was discovered in 1974 and the site has been excavated, revealing valuable insights into the ancient civilization that once flourished there. Mehrgarh offers important insights into civilizational tourism and early human civilization to both inbound and outbound tourists.
Religious tourism needs special attention. The province has the Mata Hinglaj Temple (Nani Mandir), located in Hingol National Park. In April each year, more than 250,000 Hindu pilgrims from Pakistan and India visit the Hinglaj Yatra. The temple is considered one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, sacred shrines devoted to Goddess Sati (Parvati). The temple has remained a place of worship for thousands of years, dating back to pre-Vedic times. It is considered a symbol of Hindu presence and heritage in Pakistan. The visits of large numbers of Hindu pilgrims make it one of the most promising religious tourism destinations.
Ostensibly, the installation of the railway network in Balochistan is an amazing engineering achievement of British rule in India. The construction of a railway track through the iconic Bolan Pass deserves to be highlighted. There are 18 railway tunnels in Bolan. The railway line, over a century old, continues to fascinate rail enthusiasts worldwide. Railway tourism provides a unique and scenic experience, displaying the province’s historical sites, rugged landscapes and rich cultural heritage. This route runs through the iconic Bolan Pass, which is regarded as one of the most picturesque railway journeys in Pakistan, offering a glimpse into history and natural beauty.
Ziarat is a famous tourist spot, well-known for the historic Ziarat Residency, where the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, spent his last days. Ziarat is also famous for its vast juniper forests. The Zarghoon Mountain Range, along with several other ranges in the province, covering an expansive 247,000 acres, forms the second-largest juniper forest in the world. This distinctive ecosystem has a diverse range of wildlife, including various species of animals, birds and plants. Some ancient trees in the valley are estimated to be nearly 5,000 to 7,000 years old, making them a vital part of the region’s ecological heritage. In the winter season, when snowfall blankets the landscape, Juniper Valley transforms into a wonderful winter wonderland, producing a fascinating sight.
The Hingol National Park (HNP) is the largest national park in Pakistan, covering a total area of 619,043 hectares. HNP is located across three districts in Balochistan, encompassing Awaran (58%), Lasbela (34%) and Gwadar (8%) respectively. The Hingol River flows through the park and forms a bay before draining into the Arabian Sea, creating an important habitat for migratory water birds. HNP is located along the Makran coastal region in southwestern Balochistan, extending into parts of Lasbela, Gwadar and Awaran districts. Much of the park is covered in drift sand, categorizing it as a coastal semi-desert. The park includes the Hingol River estuary, which provides a rich variety of bird and fish species.
Arguably, security is the biggest challenge as far as the exploration of tourism in Balochistan is concerned. However, the entire province cannot be viewed through a single lens of security. Security issues do not exist in the entire Balochistan. By streamlining tourism potential, baby steps should be initiated. Tourism also requires attractions, access, accommodation, activities for visitors and amenities. Experts at the conference ranked attractions in Balochistan as very high, access as moderate and accommodation, activities for visitors and amenities as low. Against this backdrop, initiating BS programs in tourism and hospitality management in universities in the province, entrepreneurship programs in tourism and a special TV channel for showcasing potential will prove effective in exploring opportunities in tourism. It is hoped that the Conference on Tourism Policy Formulation for Balochistan will pave the way for fostering the sector, exploring tourism, showcasing a positive and soft image of Balochistan, creating job opportunities and mitigating poverty, ultimately contributing to the reduction of extremism in the province.
—The writer is contributing columnist.
