Lahore:
The sixth ECO Tourism Ministerial Meeting was held in the Turkish city of Urzerum, in which Lahore was declared “Tourism Capital 2027”, the Chief Minister said that Lahore is ready to welcome the world.
According to Express News, the historic city of Lahore was honored for the first time the ECO Tourism Capital, an organization of ten countries. Lahore was ranked ‘ECO Tourism Capital’ for 2027 at the sixth ministerial meeting to promote the ‘ECO’ tourism in the Turkish city of Azarum.
The nominations of Mary (Turkmenistan) and Krakol (Kyrgyzstan) were withdrawn from the effective diplomacy of the Pakistani delegation led by Agriculture Minister Ashiq Kurmani.
Efforts to make Lahore an ‘ECO Tourism Capital’ began in early 2024. The head of the Pakistani delegation, Ashiq Kurmani, convinced Turkmen and Kyrgyzstan ambassadors to withdraw the nominations of their cities after a long talks.
The Pakistani delegation arrived on April 25 to select the ‘ECO’ tourism capital. The delegation of Punjab included MNA Ali Akbar, Secretary Tourism.
The eighth, the ECO, the tourist and the sixth ministerial meeting also showed a documentary on the history, culture and heritage of Lahore. The Punjab Ministry of Tourism has been working for this purpose for the past four months.
The city of Uzbekistan has received this honor earlier, the Turkish city of Anatolia, Turkey, was named ‘ECO Capital Tourism’ for 2025.
At the invitation of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Ambassador of the ACO has visited Lahore. The ECO selects one of the ten members of the country every year for this unique honor.
Lahore was nominated ‘ECO Capital Tourism’ due to the background of historical, cultural and tourism heritage. Declaring Lahore’s ‘ECO Capital Tourism’ will promote global tourism in Pakistan.
The ECO includes countries in Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan as well as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz has said on the social networking site X (Twitter) that it is a proud and historic moment for Pakistan and Punjab that Lahore has been honored with the “ECO Tourism Capital 2027”, the honor was given to the Turkish city of ACO and the sixth ECO in Lahore.
Chief Minister Punjab has said that with excellent historical heritage, colorful culture and innumerable abilities, Lahore is ready to welcome the world, Lahore is going to be a bright center on the global scenario as a tourism capital 2027.
Maryam Nawaz said that the ECO countries are deeply thanked the ECO countries for selecting Tourism Capital 2027, with the confidence, support and cooperation of the ECO, we will bring the beauty of Pakistan, Punjab and Lahore to the world.
