For the first time, the Department of Culture and Tourism, Government of Balochistan, is set to bring the province’s cultural identity, scenic beauty, and tourism potential to the heart of the country through the Balochistan Grand Tourism Festival 2025, scheduled to take place from October 10 to 12 at Lok Virsa, Islamabad.
The three-day event aims to highlight the province’s vibrant traditions, natural landscapes, and investment potential, offering a rare glimpse into the real Balochistan—diverse, creative, and resilient.
Director Culture and Tourism Quetta, Dawood Tareen, described the festival as a milestone in reshaping national perceptions about Balochistan.
“For decades, the narrative around Balochistan has been overshadowed by challenges,” he said. “Now it’s time to present the province’s real face—one that reflects culture, beauty, creativity, and opportunity.”
The festival is being organized under the vision of Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Tourism and Law Mir Zarain Khan Magsi, who said the initiative seeks to build cultural bridges between Balochistan and the rest of Pakistan while drawing global attention to the province’s tourism and investment opportunities.
“This initiative is not just about tourism,” Tareen added. “It’s about cultural diplomacy—showing the world that Balochistan is an integral part of Pakistan’s diversity and a symbol of hospitality, art, and peace.”
Culture Meets Conversation
The festival will transform Lok Virsa into a vibrant space of folk music, crafts, traditional cuisine, and tourism exhibitions, showcasing the province’s eco, coastal, adventure, and archaeological attractions. Performances inspired by timeless Balochi folk tales such as Hani and Sheh Mureed and poetry by Mast Tawakali will add a storytelling dimension to the event.
Adding an intellectual component, a series of high-level panel discussions will explore the future of Balochistan’s tourism and economy.
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On October 10, a session titled “Tapping the Tourism Potential of Balochistan” will feature Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, Parliamentary Secretary Mir Zarain Magsi, Secretary Culture Shakeel Qadir Khan, and Prof. Dr. Zainab Bibi.
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On October 11, the focus will shift to “Blue Economy of Balochistan”, with insights from Lt. Gen. Hassan Azhar Hayat, Dr. Zia ur Rehman, and Dr. Hafeez Jamali.
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The final day’s session on “Investment Opportunities in Balochistan”, moderated by Faria Farooq, will host Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, PM’s Tourism Coordinator Yasir Ilyas Khan, and Chenggaiz Hussain Khan, Chairman Balochistan Council on Foreign Relations.
A Taste of Balochistan
Visitors will also experience traditional Balochi cuisine, from Sajji and Kaak bread to Turbat’s dates, alongside live folk performances featuring instruments such as the dambura and suroz, reflecting the rhythms of both desert and coast.
The event is expected to draw diplomats, media representatives, students, and art enthusiasts from across Pakistan and abroad. It aims to project a positive, inclusive, and forward-looking image of Balochistan, countering stereotypes and showcasing its immense potential for tourism and cultural exchange.
As Dawood Tareen concluded,
“Balochistan is not just a land of mountains and deserts—it’s a land of stories, songs, flavors, and traditions that deserve to be celebrated. This festival is our way of inviting the world to see the real Balochistan: peaceful, welcoming, and full of life.”
The Balochistan Grand Tourism Festival 2025 thus marks an important step in the province’s cultural diplomacy, where tradition meets tomorrow.
