KARACHI: Raja Nasir Ali Khan, the minister of tourism and sports for the mountainous Gilgit-Baltistan region, said Pakistan wanted to use the Dubai Expo to showcase the country’s tourism potential and attract Gulf nations to a planned winter sports festival this year, particularly to participate in a desert rally.
Gilgit-Baltistan is home to the Himalayas and the world’s second highest mountain K2. In 2018, it was listed by Forbes among the 10 “coolest places” to visit. The region’s economy is largely dependent on tourism and was severely hit last year as outbreaks of COVID-19 and travel curbs deterred tourists from flocking to GB’s glacial lakes, valleys and 8,000-meter-plus peaks.
This year, the government is banking on the arrival of a large number of tourists on account of fewer coronavirus infections and the loosening of domestic travel restrictions as well as visas on arrival for 65 nationalities.
From Gulf nations, Pakistan hopes people will come to participate in a rally in the Sarfaranga Desert, also known as the Skardu Cold desert, the tourism minister told Arab News.
Located at a height of 7,500 feet, it is the world’s highest desert where car rallies have been held for the last many years.
Khan said Pakistan had set up a huge pavilion, costing $28.72 million, at the Expo 2020 Dubai which will kick off next month, and hoped to use the platform to showcase the country’s “tourism potential” for winter and summer sports, particularly before Gulf countries.
“The people [from Gulf nations] will have opportunities to get firsthand knowledge of what we [Pakistan] have to offer them in northern parts of the country,” Khan said. “We will showcase our products like dry fruits and handicrafts and gems stones.”
“Through Dubai Expo 2020 our target is Gulf countries as we want their people should participate in the cold desert rally,” he said, adding that 150 drivers and over 100 bikers had participated in the last event.
Khan said he expected participation to increase by at least 50 percent this year as coronavirus rules had been relaxed.
“We want international participation, especially from Arab countries, for the event,” the minister said.
Pakistan hopes Dubai Expo pavilion will attract Gulf nations to desert rally this winter
https://arab.news/wrqth
Pakistan hopes Dubai Expo pavilion will attract Gulf nations to desert rally this winter
- Sarfaranga Desert, located at a height of 7,500 feet, is the world’s highest desert
- A car rally has been held in the ‘cold desert’ for the last few years
Customs seize narcotics, smuggled goods, vehicles worth $4.9 million in southwest Pakistan
- Customs seize 22.14 kg narcotics, consignments of smuggled betel nuts, Hino trucks, auto parts, says FBR
- Smuggled goods enter Pakistan’s Balochistan province from neighboring countries Iran and Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Customs seized narcotics, smuggled goods and vehicles worth a total of Rs1.38 billion [$4.92 million] in the southwestern Balochistan province on Tuesday, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said in a statement.
Customs Enforcement Quetta seized and recovered 22.14 kilograms of narcotics and consignments of smuggled goods comprising betel nuts, Indian medicines, Chinese salt, auto parts, a ROCO vehicle and three Hino trucks in two separate operations, the FBR said. All items cost an estimated Rs1.38 billion, it added.
Smuggled items make their way into Pakistan through southwestern Balochistan province, which borders Iran and Afghanistan.
“These operations are part of the collectorate’s intensified enforcement drive aimed at curbing smuggling and dismantling illegal trade networks,” the FBR said.
“All the seized narcotics, goods and vehicles have been taken into custody, and legal proceedings under the Customs Act 1969 have been formally initiated.”
In the first operation, customs officials intercepted three containers during routine checking at FEU Zariat Cross (ZC) area. The containers were being transported from Quetta to Pakistan’s Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, the FBR said.
The vehicles intercepted included three Hino trucks. Their detailed examination led to the recovery of the smuggled goods which were concealed in the containers.
In the second operation, the staff of the Collectorate of Enforcement Customs, Quetta, intercepted a ROCO vehicle at Zariat Cross area with the local police’s assistance.
The driver was interrogated while the vehicle was searched, the FBR said.
“During interrogation, it was disclosed that drugs were concealed inside the spare wheel at the bottom side of the vehicle,” it said.
“Upon thorough checking, suspected narcotics believed to be heroin was recovered which was packed in 41 packets, each weighing 0.54 kilograms.”
The narcotics weighed a total of 22.14 kilograms, with an estimated value of Rs1.23 billion in the international market, the FBR concluded.
“The Federal Board of Revenue has commended the Customs Enforcement Quetta team for their effective action and reiterated its firm resolve to combat smuggling, illicit trade and illegal economic activities across the country,” it said.
