Guest Post by Bradistan Calling
The government has decided to celebrate the year 2007 as ‘Visit Pakistan Year‘.
Tourism is one of the biggest industries in the world. It can bring employment, opportunities and recognition. Pakistan is one of the best kept secrets of the tourism industry. Posts on ATP - on our various hidden tourist gems, our history, our culture and heritage, etc. - are examples of all that Pakistan has to offer. Everyone has their own ideas on Pakistan and pakistaniat; but ATP has demonostrated our ‘unity in diversity.’
ATP is the right forum for discussing how we can make “Visit Pakistan 2007″ a success.
What avenues can be explored for participation and promotion of Pakistan. How can we 
attract tourists to Pakistan in 2007 and beyond? What can institutions like the national flag carrier (PIA) do to become a calling card for Pakistani tourism and hospitality? What role can the media play in this? And what can Pakistanis abroad do?
If those Pakistanis who live abroad decide to take ‘Visit Pakistan 2007′ seriously, others will surely follow.
Bradistan Calling is a proud Pakistani in Bradford, West yorkshire (Little Pakistan).
Rob,
By any chance, are you the doctor who served at the Qalandarabad Hospital at one time? If yes, then we have met.
ISLAMABAD,Dawn the pakistani english language newspaper June 20: Former tourism minister Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar has served a legal notice on the head of the ‘Sharia court’ established by Lala Masjid administration, seeking an apology from him for damaging her reputation and political career by issuing a fatwa against her.
In the notice served on Mufti Mohammad Yunus through Advocates Dr M. Aslam Khaki and Syed Liaquat Banori she said she would initiate civil as well as criminal proceedings against him and ‘the culprits behind him’, if an apology was not tendered within one week.
The ‘court’ established in the mosque had issued its first decree against Ms Bakhtiar for hugging a Frenchman after paragliding in Paris, saying that Islam did not allow such actions.
Woman minister for tourism facing fatwa resigns, another unwanted minister is dumped into ministry of tourism, tourism is a priority for visit pakistan year 2007,
what a joke
Guest Post: This is Bradistan
http://dilnawazinqalabi.blogspot.com/2006_12_01_ar chive.html
Cam Diary: Nabeel Park, Bradfordistan
Sir CamHerein was a mighty fusion of cultures: Eastern, Western, English, Pakistani, Indian, African, Arab and others � a potpourri of sounds, smells, and sights
Peel Park in Bradford was the venue for Europe’s largest mela last weekend. The mela is also the largest free event in Yorkshire. Bradford, which is famous for its large Pakistani community, is often called ‘mini Pakistan’ or ‘Bradfordistan’. Little wonder, then, that this community has popularised the word mela and that the city is now home to this internationally renowned festival.
“A wonderful showcase for local and international artists,� is how Bradford’s Mayor described the event. A ‘celebration of Bradford at its best’, said the organisers of the mela. ‘Marvellous Mela’, They opened up with an instrumental version of Pakistan’s national anthem, and then launched into their popular tunes, such as Jazba Junoon and Sayonee. The youthful crowd went mad: ‘sayoneeee’ they chanted, waving Pakistani flags, raising arms, doing bhangra.
Nabeel Park, Bradfordistan: “I woz ‘ere, June 21, 2003�!� Sir Cam, Cambridge, England
The controversy refuses to die a natural death, the saga continues, the juicy story of ” nilofer bakhtiar” & the mullah fatwah is all over the world in TV,radio and Newspapers.
interesting, google “pakistan tourism” for news , amazing what comes up, good publicity in most unlikely of places, what a way to promote a losing battle
ashamed to say
“vist karachi year 2007″ and get burnt alive
Karachi and MQM perfect promotion for visit pakistan 2007
make ALTAF HUSSAIN MINISTER for CULTURE AND TOURISM.
POSSIBLE BOTH PSYCHOPATHS(MUSHARRAF & ALTAF) ARE FROM DELHI,WE SHOULD OUTSOURCE OUR SOULS AND CONSCIENCE TO A CALL CENTRE IN DELHI
is there is any discussion with western governments namely USA,UK and Europeans to ease the negative travel advisories regarding Pakistan.
Malaysia celebrating its 50th independence anniversary has already started a vigorous TV campaign for a visit Malaysia year 2007.
In Pakistan government initiatives, I have learned through previous experiences, are most of the time riddled with red tape of bureaucracy ,half hearted ,half baked and ill conceived (not to mention nilofer bakhtiar saga), but nevertheless it’s a start, keeping our fingers crossed that it will be a success.
The Visit Pakistan Discussion is about how
ordinary Pakistanis ,
and forums like ATP, play a part in defining what is meant by label “ made in Pakistan� and brand Pakistan in terms of culture and Tourism Potential of Pakistan.
well, People outside pakistan generally believe that in pakistan anytime anywhere some person can just appear with dynamite sticks on his belly, push a button and mama miyaaa!!! you got your travel package of an infinite journey. So its pointless to talk about tourism with such an image all over the world plus nobody knows about the places available to visit in pakistan. Government never worked on growing the awareness on what an immense beauty of nature people are missing on. Even most people living in pakistan dont know about the beauty of pakistan. Plus communication structure in the country (which includes means of travel as well) is too lame. Tourist mostly go for places of which they have heard or seen on the media concerning something worthy to visit and safe as well. How can the government even expect that tourism can contribute to the economy with so many barriers. There are a lot of things to look into if they want to promote tourism or any Foreign Directed Investment. Looking into Tourism at this point is like trying to make a broken legged person run without even operating his leg.
Anderson
http://floraltt.atspace.com