CAPS international hybrid seminar explores new avenues of cooperation between Pakistan & Oceania

ISLAMABAD: The Consortium for Asia-Pacific Studies (CAPS) successfully hosted an international hybrid seminar titled “Bridging Pakistan and Oceania” at IFQ Hotel & Resort, Islamabad, on July 17, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PST.

The event brought together prominent scholars, diplomats, policymakers, and practitioners from Pakistan and Oceania to foster mutual understanding and explore collaborative opportunities in tourism, cultural linkages, and climate resilience.

Moderated by Umair Pervez Khan, General Secretary of CAPS, the inaugural session opened with a welcome note by Dr. Khuram Iqbal, President of CAPS, who emphasized the importance of strengthening Pakistan-Oceania relations in a time of global interdependence.

Dr. Khuram Iqbal greeted the participants and highlighted CAPS’s mission to combat blindness in the Asia-Pacific region in Pakistan. He mentioned Pakistan’s increasing engagement with Oceania through geo-economic and South-South cooperation and emphasized the strong potential for deeper ties with Australia.

The keynote address was delivered online by Dr. Isimeli Waibuta Tagicakiverata, Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Fiji National University. He discussed historical and cultural similarities between Pakistan and Fiji, including colonial legacies, agricultural practices, economic structures, and tropical climates.

Looking toward 2030 and the upcoming SDG deadlines, he emphasized the urgent need to address climate change impacts. He called for greater collaboration in security efforts, disaster management, and sports diplomacy, highlighting that Fiji can learn valuable lessons from Pakistan’s experiences.

The first session, titled “Promoting Sustainable Tourism,” was chaired by Ambassador Naela Chohan, Pakistan’s former envoy to Australia, and moderated by Dr. Gulshan Rafiq, Chief Organizer of the seminar and an Assistant Professor at NUST.

Discussions focused on leveraging Pakistan’s diverse tourism potential and developing strategies to project its destination image globally. Key presentations included Asaf Javed Chaudhry from Samsons Group of Companies on tourism development in Swat, who highlighted that the tourist experience has been repositioned and is now termed ‘FROM HIDDEN GEMS TO GLOBAL TOURIST DESTINATION.’

Dr. Waqas Saleem, Executive Director at LOK VIRSA, emphasized the potential of heritage tourism along with intangible cultural heritage. He stresses the role of institutions like Lok Virsa in promoting Pakistan’s soft image globally.

Dr. Irram Waheed from NUST discussed branding strategies for tourism promotion. She spoke about the role of linguistics and the power of storytelling in branding Pakistan’s tourism industry. She presented case studies of New Zealand and other tourist destinations, emphasizing that if we don’t brand ourselves, others may not always be kind.

Adding a regional viewpoint, Miss Naomi Wambea from Papua New Guinea participated online to share insights on sustainable tourism practices in Oceania. She discussed the untapped potential of PNG’s tourism sector, which is hindered by a lack of infrastructure, capacity, and training. PNG, acknowledging these challenges, has begun investing in youth and engaging NGOs to promote responsible and sustainable tourism.

The second session, titled “Beyond Borders: Shared Climate Stories and Solutions from Pakistan and Oceania,” featured an in-house CAPS Expert on CLIMATE, Sardar Bakhsh, who gave an overview of climate vulnerabilities in Oceania and South Asia. Both regions are witnessing a new trend in changing monsoon patterns, enabling the Global South to raise a unified voice at the international forum for climate financing.

Ms. Sheeba Tariq from NUST discussed prospects for cooperation in disaster risk management, while emphasizing the incorporation of AI technology to mitigate climate challenges and building indigenous capabilities rather than relying on foreign Aid.

Junior Yama, from Papua New Guinea, joined online to highlight youth activism and propose a way forward on climate action for the region.

Yuhan Zheng from the University of Ireland discussed the idea of connecting the unconnected through technology and encouraging local startups in various fields, including engineering, to address climate challenges.

Both sessions concluded with lively Q&A exchanges, during which participants emphasized the need for building structured frameworks for tourism collaboration, cultural exchanges, and joint climate initiatives. Shield presentations and group photos marked the end of each segment.

General Secretary CAPS Umair Pervez Khan, while offering a vote of thanks, reiterated CAPS’s commitment to fostering dialogue and building sustainable partnerships between Pakistan and Oceania, with a focus on tourism, culture, and climate resilience. He called for actions to connect Pakistan and the Oceania region to gain maximum benefits.