ISLAMABAD: On September 2, 2025, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Islamabad organized a large-scale roadshow dedicated to showcasing the tourism potential of this beuatiful country of Central Asia. A large number of tour operators, prominent citizens and officials of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation participated in the event.
The event also featured a presentation by the Director of the Uzbekistan Tourism Information Center in Islamabad, as well as the screening of a video titled “Uzbekistan through the Eyes of Pakistani Photographers.”
Artists from Khorezm delighted the audience with national songs and dances, while masters of Uzbek cuisine treated guests to plov, other traditional dishes, and sweets, which left a lasting impression on everyone present.
A special part of the event was honoring the photo journalists who visited Uzbekistan to make their the best work on the tourist attractions of the country. Hafiz Azhar, Ramzan Moghal, Shahid Qureshi and others were among them. Ramzan Moghal screened his photo documentary in the event that recieved huge applaise from the audiance.
Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev, in his welcome address emphasized that for centuries the Great Silk Road connected the peoples of Central and South Asia, and today these ties are being revived in a modern form — through tourism, cultural exchange, and direct people-to-people contacts.
He spoke highly about Uzbekistan’s rich tourism potential, noting that cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Termez, and Kokand, all included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, are highly attractive destinations for Pakistani tourists. Special attention was given to pilgrimage tourism, particularly the mausoleums of Imam al-Bukhari and Bahauddin Naqshband, which hold unique importance for the Islamic world.
It was also highlighted that Uzbekistan Airways has launched direct flights on the routes “Tashkent–Lahore” and “Tashkent–Islamabad.” These flights not only provide convenient travel opportunities but also serve as a genuine “bridge of friendship, trade, and cooperation.”
Ambassador invited tour operators and investors to cooperate in implementing joint tourism programs, developing the hotel industry, and launching cultural projects.
The Chairman of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, Aftab ur-Rehman Rana, highlighted the historical and cultural commonalities uniting our nations and stressed that tourism is not only an economic activity but also an important factor in strengthening bonds of friendship and partnership between peoples.
The Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Tourism, Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, highly praised the reforms and projects carried out by Uzbekistan in recent years, noting that our country’s experience is of great importance for Pakistan.
On the eve of the event, a tourism flash mob was held at Islamabad’s largest shopping and entertainment center, Centaurus Mall, where visitors enthusiastically enjoyed Uzbek national dances and songs.
This grand event not only showcased Uzbekistan’s rich cultural heritage and tourism potential to the Pakistani public but also became an important step in strengthening our country’s image in the region and attracting new friends and partners.
