Lahore nominated as ECO Tourism Capital for 2027

LAHORE:Pakistan and the Punjab province have gotten a significant global honour as Lahore was nominated as Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Tourism Capital for the year 2027.

A 25-member delegation of the 10-nation Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) will begin its visit to Lahore from April 13 and it will be formally announced that Lahore will be nominated as ‘ECO’s Tourism Capital’.

Shahrisabz in Uzbekistan has already received this honor and the city of Erzurum in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey has been nominated as ‘ECO’s Tourism Capital’ for 2025. The Ambassador of the “Economic Coordination Organization” was visiting Lahore on the invitation of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were also included in the ECO, in addition to Turkiye, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Every year, the ECO selects one city from 10 member countries for this unique honor and Lahore was being granted this special honor against the backdrop of its rich historical, cultural and touristic heritage. The aim of this series, which began in 2019, was to highlight historical, cultural and touristic heritage and beauty of the ECO region worldwide.

The meeting of the permanent delegates council of ECO, hosted by the Chief Minister Punjab will be held at the Civil Secretariat.

In addition to witnessing Mela Charaghan, the delegation members of the ECO countries will visit other historical sites including Walled City and Punjab Safe Cities Authority. A luncheon will also be hosted in the honour of the ECO delegation at the Governor’s House.

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb while talking to the media said that Lahore receiving the honour of ‘ECO Tourism Capital’ was a great achievement in promoting our history, culture and national heritage, which the Punjab government duly welcomes.

She said that the Chief Minister wanted to show historical, cultural and civilizational colors of Lahore to the world. Lahore being nominated as ‘ECO Tourism Capital’ will prove to be an important milestone towards promoting global tourism in the country and the province.