ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government said on Tuesday the promotion of religious tourism in the country would help boost its economy and project a soft image internationally, as groups of Buddhist monks from different parts of the world started attending a three-day symposium in Islamabad.
The event focusing on the Gandhara Civilization and Buddhist heritage in Pakistan has been organized as part of the country’s cultural diplomacy.
Gandhara, which means the “land of fragrance” in Sanskrit, was a civilization that existed on the west of the River Indus, in the middle of the first millennium BCE to the beginning of the second millennium CE. The modern-day northwestern Pakistani territories of Peshawar, Swat, Dir, Bajaur, Buner, Mardan and Swabi were part of the civilization and continue to have several excavation sites today.
Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Gandhara Tourism Dr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani said the event was organized to highlight the potential of religious tourism in the country that would help boost its economy as well.
“This will help boost our economy by at least $1.5 billion to $1.75 billion in the first year [and] $3 billion in the second year,” he said.
Vankwani maintained this “will also build our image in the eyes of the international community” while promising to organize more such events in the future to build liaison with the international community.
Speaking to Arab News, Dr. Yon Seng Yeath, acting rector of Sihanouk Buddhist University in Cambodia, said: “Gandhara Civilization is in the minds and hearts of Buddhists across the world for such long thousands of years.”
“We have heard about it,” he continued, “but for most of the common Buddhists, common people Gandhara Civilization is not well exposed to the outside world because of many reasons. This conference, this symposium, I think, can be important to send our message to the world that Gandhara still exists and is well preserved and safe to visit.”
The Buddhist monks have come from Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Nepal, Sri Lanka, China to participate in the event that also features a visit to Taxila and Peshawar museums, known for housing centuries-old Buddhist artefacts.
The sacred archaeological sites of Gandhara along with the excavated artefacts are a source of inspiration for Buddhists across the world.
“Gandhara and Dharmarajika Stupas in Taxila are very significant for Buddhist people from all around the world because these are historical monuments,” Sobita Mr. from Myanmar told Arab News.
“Taxila is a very famous place for Buddhist people,” he said while sharing his excitement to be visiting the place.
Earlier, President Dr. Arif Alvi welcomed the monks, saying Pakistan was in possession of the highest number of Buddhist artefacts since it was home to the ancient Gandhara Civilization.
“All the religions preach peace and we have to promote this message to bring cohesion and harmony in our societies,” he pointed out while stressing the need to promote religious tourism.
