The three-day Balochistan Grand Tourism Festival opened at Lok Virsa in Islamabad, bringing a wide display of the province’s cultural heritage, traditional cuisine and artisanal crafts to the capital with support from the Ministry of National Heritage.
The event was inaugurated by Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Khan Bugti, with Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi welcoming the chief guest. Stalls across the venue highlight Balochistan tourism through food, clothing and historical archives aimed at promoting the province’s distinct identity and travel potential.
Chief Minister Bugti said the festival would help project Balochistan’s culture nationwide, describing the province as a land of hospitable people whose seas, mountains and plains welcome visitors. He assured potential investors and partners that their concerns would be addressed through a one-window operation to accelerate development and tourism projects.
Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Tourism, and Law Mir Zareen Khan Bugti highlighted coastal and natural attractions including Gadani, Kund Malir, Golden Beach Gwadar and the Hingol forests, while underscoring religious tourism sites such as the Hinglaj Mata temple and the famed juniper forests of Ziarat as key draws for both domestic and international visitors.
Lt. Gen. (R) Hasan Azhar Hayat Khan, Managing Director of Green Tourism, urged meaningful involvement of local communities to ensure sustainable development. He recommended the establishment of a Tourism Police to bolster visitor security and proposed launching cruises and ferries to strengthen coastal tourism alongside expanding religious tourism opportunities.
Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan welcomed the Government of Balochistan’s initiative, noting that showcasing local destinations encourages family travel within Pakistan and can attract wider investment when the country invests in its own tourism assets. Secretary Culture and Tourism Sohail Rehman Baloch thanked participants and praised Lok Virsa and the ministry for highlighting Balochistan’s cultural legacy.
The festival continues for three days, offering visitors a close look at vibrant traditions and untapped opportunities in Balochistan tourism while inviting collaboration from national and international donors and private firms.
