Staff Reporter
The Pakistan High Commission, London, in collaboration with Silk Road Enterprises, successfully hosted the International Silk Route Festival 2026 Road Show in London, bringing together distinguished diplomats, business leaders, tourism professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, media representatives, and members of the British-Pakistani community to promote Pakistan’s growing opportunities in tourism, trade, investment, culture, and regional connectivity.
The Road Show was jointly organised and co-hosted by the Pakistan High Commission, London, and Silk Road Enterprises, led by Ms. Sadaf Khalid Khan, Global Coordinator and Director, Mian M. Hashim Masood, Director, and Prince Shehryar Khan, Director.
The event commenced with a welcome address by Mr. Haseeb Bin Aziz, Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan to the United Kingdom, who warmly welcomed the distinguished speakers, guests, and participants. In his remarks, he highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and the United Kingdom while promoting Pakistan as an emerging destination for tourism, business, investment, and cultural exchange. He commended the organisers for bringing together an outstanding panel of speakers and stakeholders committed to advancing Pakistan’s international profile.
The Road Show featured an impressive panel of speakers including Mr. Faraz Khan, Co-Founder & Partner of Sustainability and Founder & Director of Seed Ventures; Mr. Christopher Wilton, Global Lead Communications at the Aga Khan Foundation, London; Mr. Momin Saqib, Entrepreneur, Actor and Social Media Activist; and Ms. Farzana Khan, Founder of The Pakistani Dream 2028.
During her keynote presentation, Ms. Sadaf Khalid Khan, Global Coordinator and Director of Silk Road Enterprises, officially introduced the International Silk Route Festival 2026, which will take place on 24–25 October 2026 at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) and Serena Hotel, Islamabad. Ms. Khan invited international investors, tour operators, travel trade professionals, tourism boards, diplomats, overseas Pakistanis, entrepreneurs, media representatives, travel influencers, and content creators to participate in this landmark international event.
She highlighted Pakistan’s extraordinary tourism potential, from the majestic Karakoram, Himalaya and Hindu Kush mountain ranges to its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ancient Silk Route heritage, rich cultural diversity, religious tourism, adventure tourism, eco-tourism, and rapidly growing hospitality sector. She emphasised that Pakistan’s strategic location at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia, China, and the Middle East makes it an ideal destination for regional trade and investment.
Speaking during the Road Show, Prince Shehryar Khan, Director of Silk Road Enterprises, highlighted Pakistan’s tremendous investment potential across multiple sectors. Mian M. Hashim Masood, Director of Silk Road Enterprises, invited international delegates to attend the International Silk Route Festival and announced an exclusive Historic Silk Route Familiarisation Tour following the festival.
Delivering an insightful presentation, Faraz Khan highlighted the growing importance of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives in Pakistan.
Christopher Wilton shared his inspiring experiences travelling along the historic Silk Road, including his journey through Pakistan. He reflected on how cultural heritage, shared history, and people-to-people exchanges continue to build bridges between nations and communities from diverse backgrounds, highlighting Pakistan’s unique role in preserving the legacy of the ancient Silk Route. Momin Saqib highlighted that nearly two-thirds of Pakistan’s population consists of young people, making the country one of the world’s youngest nations. He emphasised that initiatives such as the International Silk Route Festival can generate employment opportunities through tourism, technology, entrepreneurship, innovation, digital media, and the IT sector.
Farzana Khan, Founder of The Pakistani Dream 2028, shared her experiences of promoting Pakistan among the overseas Pakistani diaspora. She highlighted the country’s immense investment potential in luxury beach resorts, mountain resorts, ski tourism, eco-tourism, wellness tourism.
The organisers expressed their gratitude to the Pakistan High Commission, London, all distinguished speakers, partners, sponsors, and guests for making the Road Show a resounding success and looked forward to welcoming delegates from around the world to Islamabad for the International Silk Route Festival 2026 on 24–25 October 2026.
