GILGIT: The Pakistan Association of Tour Operators (Pato) on Wednesday assured domestic and foreign tourists that Pakistan’s destinations are safe and open, following a ceasefire announcement between Pakistan and India.

“The fog of war that was looming on the horizon has settled,” Pato Chairman Niaz Ahmed said in a statement. He noted that both countries have agreed to resolve their differences peacefully with international assistance.

Mr Ahmed said tourism across Pakistan has resumed, with tourists set to reach destinations including K2, Nanga Parbat, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Swat and Chitral Valleys in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He added that tourist regions, including Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral, Swat, and major cultural hubs like Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi, are “safe, peaceful, and open to visitors”.

“The mountaineers paradise ’Saltoro/Baltoro glaciers and Karakoram group of peaks, including K2, are also safe and peaceful for mountaineering expeditions,” Mr Ahmed said. He also mentioned that celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the first ascent of Tirich Mir peak in Chitral are planned for this year.

Mr Ahmed acknowledged that “some segment of media and fake posts over social media may create some level of uncertainty”, but he assured that “the situation on the ground is stable, and tourism activities are continuing as planned”.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2025