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).
Hi all,
Thanks for nice words and thanks for really very interesting articles on this site, I’ll be reading it before and during my trip, I’ll be also taking a lot of photos, so you could see how your country is seen by the foreigner ;)
Fareed, I want to visit Peshawar too, I’ll try to contact you when I’ll be near, could you send me your email?
Best regards
There is a telling opinion column by Irfan Hussain in Dawn today that pretty much sums it all up.
http://www.dawn.com/weekly/mazdak/mazdak.htm
“Hi,I’m from Poland and I’m going to Pakistan in February. Yes, I’m afraid a little bit (the only news that come to Poland about Pakistan is about terrorism etc…), but I believe that it will the journey of my life. All people who visited your country earlier were very enthusiastic and they just love it, they are more trustworthy than newspapers.”
Jacek: Pakistan is just like any other country in the world. It is neither all good nor all bad. However it is a beautiful country and a wonderful place to visit. You will fall in love with its mountains and valleys; rivers and plains; deserts and sea; and most of all people and places. Upon your return please do tell us about your travels to Pakistan here at ATP. Welcome to Pakistan–The land of the Mighty Indus.
Eidee Man:
Emma Duncan’s Breaking The Curfew is probably the best book on the country in terms of understanding it.
Any Pakistani or American (in fact anybody looking to learn about Pakistan) must read the book “Three Cups of Tea” although it talks about a man Greg Mortenson who comes to Pakistan to build schools, it also explores the beauty of Pakistan and why an American would fall in love with a country like Pakistan.