ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has missed an opportunity of launching a tourism-based ferry service between Gwadar and Chabahar before the operation control of the Iranian port was handed over to India.

The government is also not taking a decision on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) required to be signed between Islamabad and Tehran for promotion of tourism between the two countries. The draft MoU was jointly prepared by the two sides in a recent meeting.

A delegation from Iran met Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) managing director Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor during its visit to Pakistan last month and the two sides had agreed to start the tourism-based ferry service between Gwadar and Chabahar.

“If we would have started ferry service between the two countries, it may be possible that operational control of Chabahar Port would have not been given to India,” the PTDC managing director told Dawn on Monday.

MoU with Iran for promotion of tourism delayed

He said the Iranian delegation comprising senior officials of its foreign and tourism ministries was eager to launch the service for the tourists of the two countries but non-serious attitude of Pakistani side marred the plan.

On Feb 17, India signed an agreement with Iran for taking operational control of Chabahar Port for 18 months.

“Earlier we lost an opportunity to start ferry service and now we are doing nothing on the MoU scheduled to be signed on March 3,” the PTDC chief said.

He said Iran had invited the PTDC to sign the MoU in Tehran on March 3 but due to red tape no decision had so far been taken by the government.

The PTDC has sent a summary to the Prime Minister Office but Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had so far not given approval to the visit of Pakistani delegation to Iran.

“If we do not take an early decision we will lose another opportunity,” Mr Ghafoor said.

He said the MoU on promotion of tourism required promotion of tourism between the PTDC and the Pilgrims Cultural Affairs Directorate General of Khorasan Razavi Province.

The PTDC chief and the director general of the Pilgrims Cultural Affairs Directorate General of Khorasan Razavi Province will be focal persons for organising and coordinating tourism affairs. Within maximum three months of signing agreed minutes, parties will duly establish a joint committee. Inspecting the obstacles and identifying probable shortcomings in touristic affairs, the committee would ponder on constructive solutions and provide propositions regarding how to dispel related hampers.

Aiming to promote travel services and expand religious and health tourism, the committee would provide within two months of its inception, informative requisite toward procedure and capacity of tourism besides a list of well-referenced active tourist agencies of this area.

The draft MoU said for the awareness of tourists about tourist attractions like travel facilities, holy places, resorts, etc, both sides will cooperate to facilitate public through media, especially those in Punjab and Khorasan Razavi provinces.

It said in order to expand and promote tourism and related services, various travel packages will be designed and provided to each other sides.

With the aim of expanding and facilitating travel of pilgrims and passengers, both countries will undertake necessary efforts and cooperation to launch direct flight from Lahore, Karachi and Mash­had, Khorasan Razavi and back.

Intending to upgrade and extend adventure, cultural and sports tourism for the teenagers and youths, the two sides will bring forward their suggestions to be considered and enforced by the joint committee.

Considering the existence of educational potentials in the field of tourism in Pakistan and Khorasan Razavi province, parties would review and comment on possibility of granting scholarships to the interested fellows of each other.

Keeping in mind the privileges and good potentials of Khorasan Razavi in medical services, officials from this province announced their readiness to render such services to the applicants in Pakistan. It will be reciprocated by Pakistanis.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2018