PESHAWAR: After a lull of more than a decade, the dead tourist trail to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is finally showing signs of much needed revival with foreigners travelling to Peshawar and other parts of the province.

Latest is the visit of Brazilian ambassador to Pakistan, who came with wife and journeyed to Khyber Pass and was astonished by the beauty as well as by not seeing many tourists during the three-day trip to Peshawar.

Ambassador Claudio Lins stayed for two nights in the provincial capital and went to Khyber Pass on Tuesday. He travelled to historic Khyber Pass, near the Afghanistan border, and spent time in Karkhano Bazaar (famous for smuggled goods) on his way back to Peshawar. This was something new and unique in the recent past.

“Each and every lover of history must visit Peshawar,” said Mr Lins during a brief chat with Dawn at Peshawar Museum. He had a joyful visit of Peshawar Museum and felt thrilled by watching the items.

In addition to official engagements, he was driven to Balahisar Fort and other places in the city. He had already been to Swat valley, once hotbed of militants.

“I have seen so many beautiful things in Peshawar and am very much impressed by this magnificent museum, which houses unique pieces of global standard,” he remarked. Appreciating less spicy delicious food, hospitality and rich archaeological sites, he said that his country-fellows liked meal with low quantum of chill and went for spicy foods too. The archaeological and tourist attractions in Peshawar valley, Malakand and Hazara divisions are welcoming foreign tourists with open arms, despite very thin flow of people to the scenic and historic spots.

Officials said that Peshawar Museum was frequented by tourists from different countries especially from Far-Eastern and European countries every week. The authorities term it a welcome development, considering the fear that kept the tourists aloof when the region was thick with militants.

“We receive a group of foreign tourists coming from Islamabad almost on weekly basis which is a positive sign,” said Hamayun Khan, an official of the archaeological department.

Official briefed visitors about significance of Gandhara Civilisation and collections of Buddhist era that have been put on display in the century-old Victoria Building, opposite the Governor’s House.

“Visits of foreign tourists and diplomats to the museum are raising hopes for revival of tourism in the province,” said Mr Khan. The museum, which is known for rare collections of Gandhara Civilisation, remained closed for visitors for more than three months when terrorism was on its peak in this region.

But decline in acts of terrorism is paving the way for promotion of tourism sector in the region. “The government has left ban on Non Objection Certificate (NoC) for foreigners, who are coming to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for visiting tourist sites,” said officials in the provincial tourism corporation.

Significantly, the gates to Khyber Pass have been opened for the diplomatic corps in Islamabad after a long time that can be a prelude to re-opening this historic route for common tourists in coming days.

The Khyber Rifles Mess, which houses huge treasurer of modern history, and Michni Checkpost are visited by state dignitaries, royals, dictators and history-lovers from across the world.

Militancy and terrorism had virtually turned entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into a no-go area for the domestic and foreign tourists. This bloody episode badly damaged profile of the province across the world. Visits of the tourists indicate that decline in militancy after 2015 is gradually improving profile of the region.

“The only thing that makes me sad is that I did not see many tourists for which Peshawar deserves,” said Ambassador Lins. He promised that players of Brazil soccer team would come to KP next time when they planned Pakistan’s visit.

Truly, tourism sector badly suffered due to militancy, but lack of infrastructure and poor maintenance of tourist sites like Peshawar Museum cannot be ignored. Poor lighting, decoration of artifacts and ceiling fans caked with black dirt speak volumes about the efficiency of tourism and archaeology department.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2018