‘Pakistan’s tourism potential mostly untapped’

Islamabad

Having travelled the length and breadth of Pakistan during his last diplomatic assignment in Islamabad, the new Argentinean ambassador feels the country has vast tourism potential but it is mostly untapped.

“From 2004 to 2007 when I served here as deputy head of the mission, I travelled a lot. I went from the northern areas to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to southern Punjab to further south to Karachi but since nature and countryside festinate me more than big cities, I miss the rustic Fata, Swat and Kaghan and Hunza valleys. The country is undoubtedly rich in natural and cultural resources but I think they’ve yet not drawn upon by and large,” Ivan Ivanissevich told reporters in his office.

In the opinion of the ambassador, who arrived in Islamabad after the retirement of his predecessor, Rodolfo Jose Martin-Saravia, of late, Pakistan needs to do three things to exploit the enormous assets of tourism optimally.

“First improve security, which, I feel, has already seen quite improvement in recent times, second ease restrictions for foreigners, especially the production of no objection certificates for going to the places, which are not restive, that I think are excessive, and third, which the most important, develop hospitality industry by building modern hotels and training and developing human resource.”

Ivanissevich, who has served in many world capitals, including London, Dublin, Moscow and Asuncion, finds Islamabad to be a beautiful city.

“I love Islamabad. It has Margalla Hills with good hiking tracks, where I usually go at weekends. Though not a golf aficionado, I’ve seen fantastic courses for the game here. I don’t play long tennis either but here are some good courts. It’s a beautiful city with so many places to visit.”

Having a taste in music, literature and other arts, the ambassador feels Islamabad’s improved a lot over the years, especially on the cultural front.

“During my earlier diplomatic assignment here, we used to get together at houses to listen to Pakistani classical singers as such events didn’t occur at the PNCA (Pakistan National Council of Arts) at that time. There’re no cinemas, very few exhibitions were held at small galleries set up at private houses, and Lok Virsa Museum was utilised. However, soon after coming back of late, I went to a music festival at Lok Virsa. That’s fantastic. Not only is the place in good repair but it’s buzzing with good activities as well. That didn’t exist in the past. At the PNCA, more and more things on culture and arts are happening. Now, the city has cinemas screening good Pakistani movies. I don’t feel bored here, especially compared with the past,” he said.

While complaining about the growing pollution in Islamabad and wanting the civic agency to take corrective measures to conserve environment, Ivanissevich emphasised the infrastructural development shouldn’t take away the city’s greenery.

“While putting up roads, bridges, other structures and residential areas, the city managers should keep all that development in certain limits. Islamabad has lots of green areas as well as trees on the street and their destruction is an ideal recipe for pollution. The city managers should be very careful about it.”

The ambassador was all praise for Islamabad’s mayor Shaikh Anser Aziz for trying to recuperate Argentina Park developed by Buenos Aires in the heart of the city long ago as a token of love for Pakistanis.

“Soon after assuming the charge few months ago, I went to the park and found one of its portions in front of the General Post Office to be in bad shape. With garbage scattered all over, it’s really an eyesore. Also, missing bricks, broken alphabetic characters on monument, and empty flowerbeds were a blot on the landscape.

“However, things are fast getting better especially due to the presence of the current mayor at the helm. He regularly visits the park to ensure it’s in order. He’s designated a team of people to take care of it on a regular basis and intends to do more to bring it back to life. I keep my fingers crossed for a positive outcome,” he said.

Though not opposed to Polyclinic’s extension on part of the park, Ivanissevich thinks the development shouldn’t come at the cost of the rest of the recreational area.

“When told that the hospital desperately needs extension but it is not possible where it currently stands, we understood it and allowed the use of one portion of the park for it in the larger public interest. But having done that, we don’t want to see the project eat away rest of the park. It should stay as it’s,” he said.

The ambassador hastened to add that his embassy would love to collaborate with the local civic agency for the upkeep and maintenance of the park’s portion, which was not part of the Polyclinic extension project.