• Central Asia Friendship Motorbike Rally 2025 will not only promote tourism but also strengthen relations with countries of Central Asia; Sardar Yasir Ilyas

• Bikers will navigate the ancient Silk Road Torkham, Kabul, Kunduz, Khujand, Samarkand and Bukhara

• Road and rails links, built under CPEC, have significantly enhanced connectivity between Pakistan and Central Asia

By: Muhammad Arif, Editor NSN.Asia

Islamabad: A crossroads of tourism, peace and culture — Central Asia Tour Motorbike Rally 2025 kicked off from Islamabad fostering Pakistan’s connectivity tourism, and cultural exchanges with landlocked Central Asia.

This unique motorbike rally spanning from Pakistan to Central Asian countries aims to promote tourism, cultural harmony and international connections in the region, according to organizers.

The rally will cover a distance of over 5,000 kilometers in 23 days, passing through historic cities such as Torkham, Kabul, Kunduz, Khujand, Samarkand and Bukhara, the marvelous cities on Silk Road.

The campaign is being participated by 11 experienced bikers from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The presence of ambassadors of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in the inaugural ceremony also gave it a diplomatic significance.

Pakistan Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Tourism, Sardar Yasir Ilyas, said in his address that the rally will not only promote tourism but also strengthen relations with neighboring countries. A tourism expo was also organized on the occasion, where Pakistan’s natural beauty, climatic diversity and cultural heritage were highlighted in a rich manner.

A group of Pakistani motorcyclists recently completed a “Lahore-Istanbul Rally” to strengthen the bond between Pakistan and Turkey. The rally, which followed an Iranian route, saw the group travel approximately 8,000 kilometers over 18 days, with the aim of promoting tourism and cultural exchange. They highlighted the strong friendship and cultural similarities between the two countries, emphasizing the potential for increased tourism and people-to-people connections.

This new travel campaign aimed to promote regional connectivity for tourism is led by Muhammad Mukaram Tareen and fellow professional bikers who would be navigating through the challenging terrain of Afghanistan.

Tareen is joined by fellow bikers to build bridges between Pakistan and Central Asia.

Mr Tareen’s passion for biking and exploration is rooted in a long history of adventure. Since 1992, he has travelled extensively on his bikes, beginning with a 1986 Honda Road Master (200cc). So far, he has travelled to 16 countries and believes that a bike is the most affordable and accessible way to explore the world.

His other travel campaigns have taken him across Pakistan, through Bangladesh, Iran, and parts of Türkiye, with memorable trips including the Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi route in Vietnam and the Black Sea coast of Türkiye.

Aside from his love of motorcycles, Tareen is passionate about exploring historical sites, including UNESCO World Heritage destinations.

His journey is as much about discovering new cultures as it is about making connections and encouraging people to explore the world, starting with Pakistan.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), flagship project of BRI, offers significant potential for increased connectivity and tourism between Central Asia and Pakistan, potentially boosting regional development and trade. Navigating central Asia by bikers would pave way for advancing regional connectivity as Central Asian countries will have more access to Gwadar Port, a deep-sea port, and facilitating trade with the global market under CPEC.

This improved Pakistan-Central connectivity can also stimulate tourism, as Central Asian countries could leverage Pakistan’s infrastructure to access new markets and tourism destinations, according to the news reports of SilkRoadNews.Net, a digital news platform reporting connectivity projects in Eurasian region.

Experts believe that CPEC has the potential to significantly enhance connectivity and tourism between Central Asia and Pakistan. By improving infrastructure, facilitating trade, and promoting regional cooperation the such tourism campaigns, CPEC can contribute to the economic development and prosperity of the entire region. However, addressing security concerns and infrastructure gaps is crucial for realizing CPEC’s full potential.

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and linking the corridor with Central Asian states for greater regional connectivity and economic stability, Pakistan’s Press Information Department (PID) said Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal while meeting China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong in Islamabad.

Since 2013, Beijing has invested tens of billions of dollars in energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan as part of CPEC, a major segment of China’s Belt and Road Initiative that aims to build land and maritime trade routes linking Asia with Africa and Europe.

In conclusion, these tourists hope that connecting Pakistan with the Central Asian states by road and rail links can maximize regional trade, foster and tourism, and accelerate cultural exchanges.