Islamabad: Pakistan and Sri Lanka have agreed to explore joint cooperation in marine tourism. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, proposed enhanced marine tourism collaboration during a meeting with Sri Lankan Minister for Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Niroshan Rathnayake in Islamabad.

According to Radio Pakistan, Junaid Chaudhry highlighted that marine industries, including fisheries and tourism, play a crucial role in supporting livelihoods, especially in developing countries. He proposed initiatives such as joint marine tourism routes or packages linking key coastal destinations in both countries, along with enhanced ferry services, cultural exchanges, and coordinated marketing campaigns.

Sri Lankan Minister Niroshan Rathnayake welcomed the proposal, saying his country’s well-established marine tourism infrastructure could complement Pakistan’s emerging coastal tourism market. He stated that this cooperation could expand mutual tourism growth, increase regional visitor traffic, and promote shared marine and cultural assets.