ISLAMABAD: At the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) in Islamabad, a pre-SCO moot was held, chaired by Ambassador and IRS President Jauhar Saleem. The event, organized by IRS in collaboration with CGTN and FM98 Dosti Channel under the theme “Building Bridges for Regional Connectivity & Partnerships”, focused on enhancing regional cooperation.
Miss Sadaf Khalid Khan, a member of the FPCCI Standing Committee on Tourism Economy, emphasized the immense potential of religious tourism—particularly Sikh and Buddhist tourism—with SCO countries, as well as nations like Canada, the UK, and the USA. She highlighted that this sector could generate $2 billion in revenue for Pakistan. She further urged Pakistan to formally recognize tourism as an industry, noting its substantial contribution to the country’s GDP.
Khan cited the travel and tourism sector’s 5.9 percent contribution to Pakistan’s GDP in 2022, with visitor spending amounting to $16 billion. This figure is projected to rise significantly, reaching $30 billion by 2033.
She also referenced the remarks of SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming during the SCO Year of Tourism in November 2023, where he emphasized that tourism plays a vital role in fostering international cooperation and mutual understanding between countries.
This discussion underscored the importance of leveraging tourism, especially religious tourism, as a key driver for regional connectivity and economic growth in Pakistan.
