With the recent attack on the Karachi airport, international airlines such as Cathay Pacific suspending their flight operations and the killing of foreign mountain climbers in Gilgit-Baltistan last year, it’s easy to forget that Pakistan was once a major tourist destination.

Yet, during the Jet Age era of the 1950s and 1960s, Pakistan was an international attraction for globetrotters seeking adventure in a new nation. Several global airlines serviced the country including the iconic Pan American World Airways (Pan Am), the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) and Italy’s flagship carrier Alitalia.

To promote tourism, the Government of Pakistan released a series of colorful travel posters in the 1960s. Featuring stunning women, rugged Pathan men, exotic animals, and architectural Mughal jewels, the vintage posters captured the glamorous allure of Pakistan for foreign travelers (even if the representations were slightly stereotyped given the Orientalist view prevalent at the time). Created before the arrival of digital photography, the artists used bold colors, beautiful calligraphy and rich imagery to illustrate Pakistan’s top visitor attractions. The series also featured East Pakistan (modern day Bangladesh) destinations such as Dacca.

Step back in time and take a whimsical journey of Pakistan through these works of art to rediscover its charming people, historical monuments and beautiful landscape. While tourists may not be jumping to book a ticket to Pakistan, these gems provide a glimpse into a bygone era.