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KPK
KP to Promote Mountain Tourism Internationally: Raja Fazal Khaliq
PROVINCE REPORT
PESHAWAR: Secretary Tourism, Culture, Archaeology and Museums Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Raja Fazal Khaliq, has directed the concerned authorities to accelerate efforts to promote tourism and cultural activities in the province, highlighting its mountain ranges and adventure tourism potential at the international level.
He said adventure tourism activities were an encouraging initiative and stressed the need to organise events in different seasons to attract more domestic and international tourists. He also directed the authorities to expedite the development of 14 new tourist destinations and establish additional rest areas and facilities for visitors.
He expressed these views during his visit to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority office, where Director General Shahid Khan Mehmood briefed him on the authority’s performance and ongoing projects. Additional Secretary Rahimullah Mehsud, Chief Planning Officer Abdul Basit, Director Administration and Finance Shehryar Mehmood and other officials were also present.
During the briefing, Raja Fazal Khaliq emphasised that the Falak Sar Summit should be promoted internationally, similar to the Tirich Mir Summit, to highlight the province’s immense potential for adventure tourism. He also called for increasing the number of tourist facilitation centres and constructing more rest facilities at popular tourist destinations.
Appreciating the performance of the Tourist Services Wing, he said it had generated encouraging revenue within a short period. However, he directed the authorities to formulate standard operating procedures (SOPs) at the district level and complete the registration of unregistered hotels, restaurants, rent-a-car services, tour operators and tour guides.
Briefing the secretary on ongoing initiatives, Director General Shahid Khan Mehmood said adventure tourism training had been launched in Chitral and Swat. The training programme would cover rock climbing, paragliding, ice hockey, boating and other adventure tourism activities.
He further informed that the Tourist Facilitation Centre and stalls at Nishtar Hall, Peshawar, would be completed by next month. Construction work was also underway at various waterfalls across the province to provide rest areas and other essential facilities for tourists.
National
French Ambassador Inaugurates Virtual Reality Art Festival in Islamabad
PROVINCE REPORT
ISLAMABAD: The Virtual and Extended Reality (VXR) Festival opened at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), Islamabad, on Friday, bringing together Pakistani and international artists, cultural representatives, students and art enthusiasts to explore the emerging world of immersive digital art.
The festival was formally inaugurated by French Ambassador to Pakistan Jean-Noël Poirier at an evening ceremony attended by diplomats, artists and members of the public. PNCA Director General Ayoub Jamali welcomed the distinguished guests, alongside French Cultural Attaché Zakaria Haffar.
Visitors experienced immersive digital environments created by artists from Pakistan and abroad through virtual reality (VR) headsets.
The Islamabad edition, titled Between the Prompts, is curated by Festival Director Dr. Najam Ul Assar, with Sarah Rajper as co-curator and Zainab Amir as assistant curator.
Dr. Najam Ul Assar said the festival aimed to encourage local and international artists to use extended reality as a medium for exploring memory, critical thinking and creative expression rather than merely consuming imported technology.
Co-curator Sarah Rajper said each city hosting the festival contributed to its curatorial vision, adding that the Islamabad edition offered audiences an opportunity to experience immersive art as a shared space for exploring memory, presence and belonging.
Featuring works by more than 70 artists, VXR showcases the creative possibilities of virtual and extended reality while encouraging audiences to engage with emerging technologies as active participants in artistic expression and cultural exchange.
The festival is organised by the Lahore Digital Arts Festival team with support from international cultural partners, including the Embassy of France, Embassy of Spain, Institut Français and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
VXR is a travelling festival without a permanent venue. Following its week-long programme in Lahore and Islamabad edition, the festival will move to Karachi.
Through exhibitions and immersive experiences, the festival explores themes of memory, identity, imagination and the evolving relationship between humans and technology.
