Awareness walk highlights Taxila's heritage

Participants call for joint efforts to preserve heritage, promote responsible tourism

TAXILA:

An awareness walk and special ceremony were held at the Taxila Museum on the occasion of World Tourism Day, highlighting the global importance of Taxila's history, Gandhara civilisation, archaeological sites and cultural heritage.

The ceremony was led by Taxila Museum Curator Zubair Akhtar, while members of civil society, students, tourism and cultural organisations and people from different walks of life attended.

Addressing the ceremony, Zubair Akhtar said Taxila was not merely a historical site but a living symbol of thousands of years of civilisations, intellectual traditions and cultural interaction.

He said the remains of ancient Taxila and its surrounding areas reflected the intellectual, religious, artistic and commercial history of the Gandhara civilisation, while the artefacts preserved at the Taxila Museum were an important means of presenting this glorious past to the world.

He said this heritage of Taxila was an important part of Pakistan's historical identity and cultural heritage. Preserving this heritage was not only a national responsibility but also part of Pakistan's role in protecting global cultural heritage. He said Pakistan's positive cultural identity could be highlighted by introducing historical sites to the world through tourism.

Speakers at the event said the day provided an opportunity to highlight the economic, social, cultural and educational importance of tourism worldwide.

Tourism at historical sites such as Taxila was not merely a form of recreation but also a means of understanding different civilisations, histories and cultures.

Founder of Taxila Baithak Tahir Suleman, representatives of Gandhara Odyssey, Gandhara Taxila Centre for Development, Indus Tour Club and other organisations also attended the event. Speakers stressed the need for joint efforts to preserve historical heritage, create awareness about archaeological sites and promote responsible tourism.