Islamabad: Managing Director, Pakistan Tourism Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor Khan met Iranian Ambassador Mehdi Honardoost. Chaudhry Abdul Abdul Ghafoor gave him a briefing on the tourism sector in Pakistan and said that Pakistan and Iran have started establishing relations since the independence of Pakistan. Pakistan is with the people of our brother country on financial and human loss in the recent severe earthquake in Iran and the Government of Pakistan is ready to provide all possible support. Both countries are members of the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD) and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). These institutions are doing well in the region for peace and security and development projects. Every year, millions of visitors from Pakistan visit Iran for the pilgrimage of holy places. Due to the lack of direct flights, people are facing difficulties in travelling. Iranian Airlines should also launch flights for Tehran and other Iranian cities from Islamabad and Lahore so that tourists’ flow may increase between the two countries. However, it is imperative that Iran should also attract its citizens to Pakistan's tourism. In this case, tour operators and embassies can play an important role by distributing tour packages of both of our countries. He further added that the Secretariat of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is located in Iran, and this organization holds several programs for tourism and culture every year, including food festival. I request that that in order to ensure Pakistan's participation in such programs, the government if Iran and ECO secretariat consider sponsoring travel costs for participants. Iranian Ambassador, Mehdi Honadoost appreciated the efforts and vision of Managing Director PTDC for the promotion and development of tourism sector in Pakistan. The Iranian embassy will try to provide maximum possible support for tourism in Pakistan and on recommendations of Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor will also be considered. The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation may share tourism development plans and easy tour packages with the Iranian embassy so that the potential of mutual cooperation should be considered and a strong result in future may come out. MD also invited him to visit north territories
