PTDC MD, Iranian team discuss tourism opportunities

Rawalpindi: The Managing Director, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, Ch. Abdul Ghafoor Khan held a special meeting with Iranian Delegation headed by Deputy Governor for Pilgrims Affairs Khorasan Razavi province in connection with forming working group between Iran and Pakistan which would work for the promotion of tourism in their respective countries.

The Iranian delegates also included Muhammad Ajam, First Counsellor for North and East Mission of Foreign Affair, Syed Ali Reza Masoodi,Hossain Zare, Jawad Musvi, Ali Reza AKhondzade, Ali Reza Kord, Mohammad Safram. Alireza Kolahan, Jawad Moqaddam who are members of commerce, Iran besides Baladi , Iranian Diplomat, Embassy of Iran. While PTDC was represented by , General Manager, Audit and Tourists Information Center, Ali Akbar Malik, Aftab-ur-Rehman Rana, president, Sustainable Tourism Foundation Pakistan etc.

Speaking on the occasion Syed Hamid Musvi expressing willingness said that Iran is ready to extend its full cooperation to PTDC in tourism. He stressed upon the need of promoting religious tourism between the two countries. He stressed there is need to making improvement for interaction between the two countries on tourism which he said at present is not satisfactory. The level of interaction between us needs to be further enhanced and strengthened in order to achieve good and positive results in tourism. Similarly there is need to hold joint tourists working group meetings. He said that the pilgrims who visit Mushad and Iraq face many hardships due to improper arrangements as a result of which good services are not provided to them. Effective steps are needed to be taken and enforced in this regard. Similarly the pilgrims which make tours through third parties also face problems and efforts are needed to organize the system. , he said. The monitoring of Irani tour operators is also essential. If better and good facilities are not arranged and provided then the ratio of tourists would fall, he observed. For tourists attraction, the tour operators should offer cheapest touring packages to them, Hamid Mausvi stressed.

Addressing earlier, the PTDC Managing Director, Ghafoor Khan while welcoming the delegates viewed that Pakistan and Iran mutually enjoy excellent terms on the basis of fraternal relationship. He was all praise to Iranian leader, Ayatollah Khomeni who brought revolution in Iran which paved the way of progress and prosperity besides making the country powerful in the world map.

He agreed with the Iranian deputy governor saying it is our responsibility to provide better and improved facilities to the pilgrims and in this regard we have to work together. Time is very short and holding meetings is not enough. Rather we have to take immediate steps for working jointly for promoting tourism which is the main sector to generate revenue strengthening country's economy. He with the working in groups the system of tour operators and travel agents of both the counters could be organized. We should focus on to encouraging exchange of youth delegations with each other which would result in further cementing brotherly and friendly relations between the two countries.

Similarly, General Manager, Audit Section said having common faith and interfaith harmony, the people of Iran and Pakistan visit each other places of interest, tourist destinations and sacred shrines of religious harbingers besides the tombs of the saints at large scale. The sentiments of the people of both the countries are held in high esteem by their respective governments. The diplomatic ties of both the countries are mostly on the foundation of their common values, traditions, cultural and religious aspects and common realities.