WB chief visits heritage site

World Bank President Ajay Pal Singh Banga visited on Sunday the Julian Stupa, a UNESCO-listed world heritage site located in Khanpur, as part of his official tour of Pakistan.

Banga arrived in Pakistan on a four-day high-level visit, during which he is touring several official and cultural landmarks. His visit began on February 1 and will continue until February 4.

During his stay, he is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Federal Minister for Finance, and other senior officials. Discussions are expected to focus on economic reforms, development cooperation, and regional projects.

As part of the visit, Banga also performed religious rites at Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, where he was presented with a siropa by members of the Sikh community. Subsequently, his delegation visited the ancient Buddhist archaeological site of Julian Stupa in Khanpur.

The delegation was received by Secretary Tourism Dr Abdul Samad, Commissioner Hazara, Deputy Commissioner Haripur, DIG Hazara Division, DPO Haripur, Assistant Commissioner Khanpur, Syed Niaz Ali Bacha, and the site in-charge of Julian Stupa, Raja Adnan.

Dr Abdul Samad briefed the guests on the historical significance of Julian Stupa, explaining that it was an ancient Buddhist university and monastery dating back to the second century AD.

He said the site still preserves the remains of a central stupa, several smaller platforms, and monastic structures, reflecting the rich heritage of the Gandhara civilisation.

During the visit, the WB chief and his delegation also inspected additional sites related to geology and archaeology and reviewed ongoing efforts to preserve cultural heritage in K-P.