Call to promote religious tourism for economic uplift

Pakistan Hindu Council chief announces weekly visits to Buddhist pilgrimage sites

ISLAMABAD:

Patron-in-Chief of Pakistan Hindu Council, Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, has announced weekly visits to Buddhist pilgrimage sites while underscoring the importance of including the promotion of Buddhist tourism in national goals for the stability of the country’s economy.

On Friday, he spoke at a gathering commemorating the birthday of Gautama Buddha at Islamabad Museum as the head of the Gandhara Tourism Task Force established by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and Minister of State.

He said that Gautama Buddha, renowned as a harbinger of peace and harmony, embarked on a transformative journey. Despite being born into royalty, he relinquished a life of comfort in pursuit of the profound purpose that lay within. Throughout the country, sacred stupas attributed to Gautama Buddha's existence serve as enduring testaments of his legacy.

He shared that a task team has devised a comprehensive initiative aimed at bolstering Gandhara tourism through a series of weekly pilgrimages. The inaugural pilgrimage is scheduled to transpire at the Buddha Cave in Shahullah Dutta, Islamabad, on the forthcoming Wednesday.

Participants including journalists, representatives from civic society, and diplomats from numerous friendly nations are expected to grace the occasion.

Subsequent phases of the programme will encompass additional destinations such as Swat, Gilgit Baltistan, and other pertinent locations.

Dr Ramesh Kumar believes that the Gandhara culture should not be viewed as being exclusively associated with Buddhism because throughout that time, adherents of other religions, including Hinduism and Jainism, also had full access to religious freedom.

Secretary Heritage Farina Mazhar also voiced her opinions on this occasion and reaffirmed her commitment to taking decisive measures to enhance tourism. She claimed that by promoting tourism in the Gandhara region, Pakistan might win over the hearts of foreign travellers.

Head of the Task Force Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, Secretary Heritage and Culture Farina Mazhar, Director General of the Department of Archeology and Museums Dr Abdul Azim, Managing Director PTDC Aftar Rehman Rana along with civil society, students, and media representatives from Indonesia, Nepal, and Thailand participated at the Buddha birthday celebration.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2023.