SAARC Car Rally enters Pakistan
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

ISLAMABAD: The SAARC Car Rally which has been organised as a prelude to 14th SAARC Summit being held at New Delhi, India on April 3-4 entered Pakistan through Wagah Border on Wednesday.

As many as 30 sport vehicles along with 110 persons comprising well known celebrities, media persons and government officials from all the SAARC countries are participating in the Rally, which started on March 15 at Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

The rally has traversed the route through Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India and now entered Pakistan.

After motoring through Pakistan, they would re-enter India on March 31 for onwards journey to Sri Lanka and Maldives through ferry crossing.

Minister for Tourism Nilofar Bakhtiar said on the occasion this event would further add beauty to the festivities already underway in the country with regard to “Destination Pakistan - 2007”.

She urged all stakeholders including national media to support efforts of the government to project Pakistan as a moderate, hospitable and peace-loving country.

She also stressed the need to effectively counter negative propaganda being hatched by western media to malign Pakistan.

She said Tourism Ministry was holding a number of colourful activities in connection with the mega event of Visit Pakistan Year to fully market country’s immense potential in tourism sector.

Presently, Ministry of Tourism is celebrating “Gandhara Week” from March 27 to April 1 to project and promote the heritage of Gandhara civilization and to highlight the collection displayed in different museums of the country.

Inaugural ceremony of “Gandhara Week” was held here on Tuesday.

As many as 99 delegates from 9 countries including China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia,Thailand, Korea and United States would be participating in the festival.

Tourists will visit Taxila, Swat, Takht Bhai and Northern Areas to observe the magnificent relics which are reminiscent of the glorious age between 600 BC and 600 AC.

The celebrations will be studded with innumerable informative and education programmes that would give the visitors an insight into the richness of ancient civilization.

Government is facilitating tourism industry in the country to introduce oldest civilizations and cultures and to promote soft image of the country in the world.●