The 33rd Annual Conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities

Open Distance Learning: 2020 and Beyond

14-16 October 2019 / Pearl Continental Hotel, Lahore, Pakistan

The 33rd Annual Conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities

Open Distance Learning: 2020 and Beyond

14-16 October 2019 / Pearl Continental Hotel, Lahore, Pakistan

Venue

The Conference will be organized in Lahore; a historical city and the provincial capital of the Punjab, Pakistan. The Conference will be held at:
Pearl Continental Hotel (5 Star) Lahore.

Travel Information
  • By Plane
    Allama Iqbal International Airport is located about 20-30 minutes from the city centre. Taxis and shuttles are available to take passengers from the city to the airport - with unmetered taxis it is advisable to set the rate beforehand. The new proposed Lahore Mass Rapid Transit System will be linked from different parts of the city to the airport. The airport is a major hub of Pakistan International Airlines which flies to the rest of Pakistan.
    Visit Lahore Airport Website for check latest flights schedule.
  • By Train
    The main railway station is located near the city centre. There are routes from all major Pakistani cities. The Samjhauta (Friendship) Express runs twice a week between Lahore and Amritsar, across the border in India. Apart from that, trains to southern e.g., Multan, DG Khan, Karachi etc and northern parts e.g., Gujrat, Gujranwala, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Peshawar etc. run from the main station. It also connects to the western part of Pakistan to Faisalabad and beyond.
  • By Car
    A modern motorway connects Lahore to Islamabad, Faisalabad and Peshawar. The motorway is considerably better than the GT road, even though it is longer.
  • By Bus
    Minibuses are the cheapest way to get between the larger cities, and the only way to get to some more remote destinations. Major Bus Companies in Lahore are:
    1. Niazi Express
      Click Here to visit Niazi Express website.
    2. Daewoo
      Click Here to visit Daewoo website.

Places to Visit

  • Shahi Qila

    History lovers regard Shahi Qila as “Lahore fort” is located in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. The building structure of Shahi Qila is trapezoidal that spread over 20 hectares. It was built during the region of Mughal Emperor Akbar around 1556-1605 and also upgraded subsequently after Mughal by Sikhs and British rulers.
  • The Badshahi Mosque

    The Badshahi Mosque was built by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and was long the largest mosque in the world. Entrance is free.
  • Minar-e-Pakistan

    Right in front of the Fort and Badshahi Mosque is a park with the name Minar-e-Pakistan. It was built on the site where in 1940 the creation of a separate state for Muslims was recognized.
  • Jehangir´s Tomb
    Jehangir´s Tomb is a famous place where the grave and the gardens surrounding of the Mughal emperor Jahangir (1605-1627) in Shahdara in the 1870's. It's a beautiful place which built as a mugal garden on right bank of the Ravi River. Jehangir´s Tomb is in one of the greatest Architectural Projects of Pakistan.
  • Wagah Border

    Wagah Border is located on Grand Trunk Road which join the Amritsar, India and Lahore, Pakistan. It's a well known place all over Pakistan. Wagah is name of village which was divided in 1947 after partition. Today half part is in India and half is in Pakistan. Many people daily visit Wagah Border to watch soldiers parade and flag lowering ceremony on every evening between border security forces of India and Pakistan. Wagah Border ceremony having great heart touching moments and increase heart beats of everyone with love for their country.

Shopping

  • Anarkali Bazaar

    Anarkali Bazar is the oldest bazaar of Lahore, Pakistan. It sells textiles, garments, jewellery, and many other items. Anarkali Bazar is divided into two portions, the Old Anarkali Bazar and the New Anarkali Bazar. The Old Anarkali Bazar is noted for traditional food items while the New Anarakli Bazar is noted for its traditional handicraft and embroidery clothes.
  • Liberty Market

    Liberty Market is one of the best shopping areas in Lahore. You'll find best quality of jewelry, fabrics, electronics and much more. At first Liberty Market appears to consist only of the large stores in a huge loop, however be aware that there is an entire backside to Liberty Market where shopping gets a lot more fun.
  • Fortress Stadium

    The Fortress Stadium is a popular open space consisting of shopping centers, restaurants, cafes and entertainment areas and a sports stadium. It is located Lahore Cantt. Fortress Stadium is also one of the most busy commercial areas of the city.
  • Mall of Lahore

    The Mall of Lahore is a large, state-of-the-art multi-purpose shopping mall complex in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan consisting of a wide range of designer brand outlets. With an area of 650,000 square feet, and over 70 stores, it is the largest shopping complex in Lahore and also one of Pakistan's largest. The shopping centre is a project of the real estate company Bahria Town.

Food and Popular

Lahore is a city with an extremely rich food culture. People from Lahore are famous all over the country for their love for food. The city offers a vast variety of options when it comes to gastronomy. In recent times, the style of food has achieved popularity in a number of different countries, because of its palatable and milder taste, mainly through the Pakistani diaspora.
  • Popular Food Places

    The following are some popular food places in lahore.
    1. Food Street
      Food Street is located on the Fort Road, Lahore. It was inaugurated on January 21, 2012 by Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, partly to replace the Gawalmandi Food Street and serve as a new food hub. The food street is famous for its authentic Lahori cuisine. It is located near the Roshnai Gate in the Walled City of Lahore, from where views of the Badshahi Mosque and the historic district of Lahore can be seen.
    2. M. M. Alam Road
      M. M. Alam road is a major road in Lahore.It runs from Main Market to Firdous Market in Gulberg. M.M. Alam road hosts a variety of flamboyant restaurants in modern Lahore.
  • Popular Dishes

    The following is a list of some foods of which Lahore is renowned for having unique tastes.
    1. Chicken tikka (Lahori-barbecue-style fried chicken pieces)
    2. Halwa Poori (a breakfast speciality of Lahore)
    3. Lahori Fried Fish
    4. Chargha (Lahori-style roast chicken)
    5. Nihari