European Cyprus – A Country Worth Visiting Once in Life at Least – Raja Liaqat

Raja Liaqat

Cyprus is very beautiful peninsular country surrounded by Mediterranean ocean. It is also called Pearl of Mediterranean as well for the landscape, attractive beaches and other tourist spots.  It is a small country with a population of only close to one million but it is surprising why Pakistanis who prefer Dubai, Turkey, Europe and the UK for leisure and sightseeing do not turn to this most beautiful tourist country.

Millions of Pakistanis go to Dubai. Every year millions of Pakistani tourists visit different European countries which are not only expensive but also get their visas after a lot of scrutiny even though a huge number of Europeans visit Cyprus every year.

An average of 4 million people visit Cyprus every year. Cyprus has all the fun and beauty of Germany, France, the Netherlands or any other European country. There are beaches with every major city where millions of tourists enjoy in summer, there are beautiful mountainous areas, there are nightclubs and above all Cyprus is much cheaper in terms of food and accommodation than other European countries. A close friend of mine, Caesar, told me about this country in 2016, after which I went to Cyprus for the first time in 2018. I had a visit visa to the Netherlands. So I could go to Cyprus without a Cyprus visa under EU law.

As the ship landed in Larnaca, Cyprus, I was reminded of Barcelona, ​​Spain, by the sea below. The city of Larnaca, which looks exactly like Barcelona from the sky, is one of the four largest cities in Cyprus. The capital of Cyprus is Nicosia. The euro is the currency here. In addition to Larnaca and Nicosia, Ayanaka is the largest city in Paphos, Limassol Cyprus.

Cyprus became part of the European Union in 2004. Its area is 0200 square kilometers. The official language is Greek, but English speakers are also found. The people here are very polite and loving. There is no crime.Day and night you can roam the whole of Cyprus with your family without fear.

One of the reasons for the tension between Europe and Turkey is the North Cyprus, which is under the control of Turkey. Just as India has made Kashmir its part, so has Turkey made North Cyprus its part. However, locals on both sides can move from one place to another without any hindrance. There are checkpoints in some places named after the border. In some cities, there is even a “boundary lane” within the city. European Cyprus on one side and Turkish Cyprus on the other.

More than 70% of the population in European Cyprus is Christian. Twenty-five percent are Muslims and two percent are communists, meaning they have no religion. This average corresponds to the total population of the parts on both sides. Cyprus was liberated from Britain on February 19, 1959. Cyprus celebrates Independence Day on October 1. Cyprus became part of the European Union on May 1, 2004 and has been a fast growing tourist country ever since. The funny thing is that in Cyprus, like in Britain and Pakistan, there is driving on the left side, due to which I also rent a car as soon as I go and then there is no difficulty in going across the country.

Thirty to forty euros a day is enough to get a good car for a safe drive. Police do not harass tourists at all. People can come anywhere very freely day and night. The traffic is well disciplined, the roads are good. The standard of cleanliness is completely European style. Cyprus is one of the oldest countries with ancient water wells. About 59% of this beautiful peninsula consists of European Cyprus and 36% is claimed by Turkish Cypriots.That is not internationally recognized. It is considered an “illegal” occupation of Turkey.

Since Cyprus became part of the European Union, music, dance and art have been an integral part of social life here. Due to its beaches, pubs, nightclubs and other leisure facilities, tourists from all over the world, including the United Kingdom and Europe, visit Cyprus every year. Over the last few years, a large number of students from Pakistan are also moving here, but there are few job opportunities here and the monthly salary is not more than four or five hundred euros, but there is a lot of benefit in private business.

You can also make a good living from a small business, which is one of the main reasons why Cyprus is a tourist country. I have been to Cyprus about six times in the last few years and I intend to write a complete book on it so that the people of Pakistan may know that there is an ideal country in terms of weather, history and tourism. In my personal opinion, one of the reasons why the people of Pakistan are not inclined towards Cyprus is that the embassy of European Cyprus is not in Pakistan.