Our world today is sadly caught up deeply in civil strife, warfare and great human suffering, all of which is also increasing quite alarmingly, with no visible signs of any improvement.
In such a situation, any effort at promoting world peace is to be lauded and supported. And when such effort is being made by an individual against all odds, our support must be even more whole-hearted and effusive.
Cassandra de Pecol (Cassie), a young American woman, is one such individual who made the hugely courageous decision to promote world peace through tourism, by setting out in July 2015 on her Expedition 196 (www.expedition196.com), aiming to visit every single of the 196 recognized Sovereign States on Planet Earth!
By end of November 2016 she had covered 193 countries and on December 13 she flew into Pakistan for a 4 day trip to visit Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, inching closer to her world record setting target.
The Pakistan Chapter of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is Cassie’s host in Pakistan, ably supported by the country’s leading PR agency, Asiatic Public Relations Network or APR, as it is better known.
APR is no stranger to promoting Pakistan internationally. Its previous work in this field has included participating in a soft image of Pakistan international campaign with its international affiliate, Hill + Knowlton Strategies, organizing B2B interaction between Turkish and Pakistani steel industry players, facilitating Japanese businessmen in understanding the dynamics of the Pakistan market, organizing a conference in London for investment in Pakistan’s equity market, counseling multinational clients doing business in Pakistan, and even training Ministry of Information officers before their posting abroad in Pakistan’s foreign missions.
The programme now chalked out for Cassie by PATA Pakistan Chapter and APR includes delivering talks at leading universities in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad and at a Rotary function.
She will be meeting the travel trade, visiting some important cultural and heritage sites, meeting the Karachi Mayor and participating in a tree plantation activity.
Cassie will also be meeting the media and interacting with youth and social media activists, among still other activities, in a hectic itinerary.
Let us all join hands to support Cassie in her noble mission by creating the widest possible awareness about her Expedition 196, and about her visit to Pakistan especially.
We hope she will take back many lasting memories of her days in our beautiful country and of the warm-hearted and hospitable people of Pakistan.
This is such a wonderful initiative. I would love to visit every country in the world. Good Luck with your world record and peace initiative. Make wonderful memories in Pakistan!! Thumbs up.