Pakistan to become observer in SCO next month
By Azka Jameel - Pakistan Times Staff Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will get status of observer of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and it will be officially ratified during the two-day conference scheduled on July 5-6 in the Kazakh capital of Astana.

The status of observer was approved by the foreign ministers of the member states in a meeting in Kazakhstan on June-4.

At present, China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan are members of the organization, which was founded in 2001, while Pakistan, Iran and India have applied for statues of observer.

Tehran's Initiative

Tehran has already initiated negotiations with Beijing and two countries have decided to revive the Silk Road through SCO to act as a bridge connecting the East and the West.

The decision will have a very positive impact on Pakistan and Islamabad will like to take active part in the process following the formal ratification next month, officials said.

Following the completion of the project through SCO, all the regional countries will be able to move along this route, they added.

Placing special focus on strengthening bilateral ties, officials said that priority should be given to seven measures including increased trade exchange, expansion of cooperation between the private sectors, establishment of special support tariffs, exchange of updated information, formation of a private banks, founding transportation companies and establishment of a state credit system aiming to support small and medium industries.

Tourism Expo 2005

Meanwhile, a 17-member delegation, representing tourism industry in Pakistan arrived here Monday to attend the three-day Beijing International Tourism Expo 2005.

"A special Pakistan's pavilion is being set up at the exhibition, beginning Wednesday. Hashim Khan, Managing Director Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation who leads the delegation told APP that it will be a big show to demonstrate the country's rich tourism potential.

"We are confident that it will be a major step forward strengthening their bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector. We also enjoy extra advantage since the Chinese government has granted Pakistan Authorized Destination Status (ADS)".

Accordingly, the two sides have exchanged lists of approved tour operators and traveling agencies to arrange tour groups.

Pakistan could be the most attractive place, if the departments concerned offer special group-tour packages for the Chinese citizens. There is need to promote awareness about the country's prominent tourism features as well, the sources added.

The travel agencies and tour operators of the two countries are also required to coordinate in preparing tour packages facilitating their tourists, said a senior official of the Travel Service Group of China (CTS).

It is also imperative for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to reduce its existing fare on Pakistan-China route for achieving the desired results.

Most of the Chinese tourists avoid travel to Pakistan only because of the existing higher airfare. The national carrier has to reduce the fare drastically in order to attract more and more passengers, said a local businessman.

The Chinese government laid special emphasis consolidating relations with the regional countries through tourism. Recently, there has been rapid growth of Chinese tourists, as record 14.3 million Chinese went abroad last year, spending over 20 billion dollars.●