KARACHI
Pakistan has taken a significant step towards strengthening its global tourism footprint with the inauguration of the Pakistan Travel Mart (PTM) 2026 at the Karachi Expo Centre, a landmark event reflecting growing international confidence in the country’s travel and hospitality sector.
The three-day exhibition was jointly inaugurated by Sindh Governor Nehal Hashmi and Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, National Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Tourism, whose leadership has emerged as a driving force behind Pakistan’s evolving tourism strategy.
Widely regarded as one of the largest tourism exhibitions ever held in Pakistan, PTM 2026 has brought together around 250 companies and organisations, occupying all six halls of the Expo Centre. The scale of participation , spanning both domestic and international stakeholders , highlights Pakistan’s increasing relevance on the global tourism map.
At the heart of this initiative is Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, whose role as the Prime Minister’s National Coordinator on Tourism has positioned him at the forefront of policy direction, international engagement, and sectoral reform. His efforts in conceptualizing and executing PTM have transformed it into a high-impact platform for investment, collaboration, and global outreach.
The event features specialised zones covering Global Aviation, Global Destinations, Technology & Travel, Hospitality, and the Salam Pakistan Pavilion. Thousands of participants are engaging in B2B and G2G interactions, alongside strategic dialogues on innovation, sustainability, and regional connectivity.
Addressing participants, Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan outlined an ambitious national tourism roadmap under a comprehensive five-year framework. He emphasised plans to double tourism employment from 4 million to 8 million jobs, increase the sector’s GDP contribution from 5 per cent to 15 per cent, and generate up to $40 billion for the economy over the next decade.
“Our vision is to position Pakistan as a dynamic, diversified, and globally competitive tourism destination,” he said, pointing to ongoing initiatives including infrastructure expansion, development of new hospitality projects, and curated tourism offerings across medical, religious, and adventure segments.
The event has attracted strong international participation, with diplomats, global tour operators, and aviation stakeholders from multiple regions attending. Observers noted that sustained hotel occupancy levels above 70 per cent signal robust demand and renewed investor confidence.
