Uzbekistan Pavilion Recognized as Outstanding Exhibit at Islamabad International Tourism Exhibition
By Ramzan Mughal
ISLAMABAD:- The tourism potential of Uzbekistan was prominently showcased at the Global Destinations Expo, held at the Marriott Hotel Islamabad, earning recognition as the most outstanding pavilion of the exhibition.
H.E. Alisher Tukhtaev, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, underscored Uzbekistan’s commitment to exploring cultural, tourism, and investment opportunities in collaboration with Pakistan.
The two-day expo, organized by the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) in collaboration with the leading television channel Discover Pakistan, hosted delegations from more than fifty embassies and international organizations accredited in Islamabad. Ambassadors and representatives from participating countries showcased their culture, arts, handicrafts, tourism heritage, and traditional cuisines under one roof, creating a vibrant international platform for cultural and tourism exchange.
The Uzbekistan Pavilion offered visitors an immersive experience of the country’s rich historical and cultural heritage, including information on pilgrimage tourism, national traditions, traditional clothing, cuisine, modern hotels, craft centers, and facilities developed specifically for international tourists.
Prominent visitors to the Uzbekistan Pavilion included Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, Special Coordinator for Tourism to the Prime Minister of Pakistan; Usman Shaukat, Chairman of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Aftab ur-Rehman Rana, President of the Sustainable Tourism Foundation Pakistan; and several foreign ambassadors. They praised the Uzbek delegation for creating the most vibrant and engaging exhibition space at the expo.
Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan highlighted the growing public interest in travel to Uzbekistan from Pakistan, attributing it to centuries-old ties, shared history, simplified visa procedures, and the availability of direct flights between the two countries. He emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to mobilize resources and strengthen tourism cooperation with Uzbekistan to enhance tourist exchanges.
During the event, Hamid Mahmud, Ambassador of the Uzbekistan Tourism Brand to Pakistan, delivered a presentation on the country’s tourism potential, guiding guests through Uzbekistan’s cultural landmarks, modern tourism infrastructure, and hospitality facilities for international visitors.
At the closing ceremony of the expo, each participating country was formally assessed, and the Uzbekistan Pavilion was recognized as the best pavilion of the exhibition, receiving a special certificate in acknowledgment of its excellence.
The expo provided a platform for productive discussions with representatives of Pakistani tourism companies and strengthened bilateral tourism cooperation, offering both nations an opportunity to deepen cultural and people-to-people ties.
