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| March 28, 2007 | Wednesday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 8, 1428 |
Gandhara Week: Buddhist sites captivate visitors
TAXILA, March 27: Foreign delegates attending the Gandhara Week celebrations on Tuesday visited the ancient city of Taxila where they were captivated by the rich archaeological and cultural heritage.
However, the heads of delegates from different countries including Korea, Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka and China were unanimous in their observation that both public and private organisations needed to make concerted efforts to exploit the country’s true potential and attract more and more tourists.
Talking to local media, they said improper publicity and lack of infrastructure at a number of destinations were hindering growth in the tourism industry.
Commenting on the Gandhara Week, the delegates said such events would promote religious tourism in Pakistan, besides projecting the country’s soft image globally. Pakistan harbours rich Buddhist treasures, they added.
Earlier, more than 100 participants of the third Gandhara Week celebrations arrived in Taxila on a day-long visit.
The event is part of the Destination Pakistan 2007 programme being observed with the theme: “Historical review of the world’s ancient Buddhist civilisation.”
Another significance of the celebrations is that Buddhists across the globe are observing the 2,550th birth anniversary of the great Buddha.
On their arrival, the delegates were received by Department of Archaeology Deputy Director Sarwat Baig and Taxila Museum Curator Amanullah.
The delegates were briefed on the fascinating history and cultural heritage of the country, which was the site of one of the world’s earliest human settlements.
Gandhara is the second holiest land for followers of Buddhism and is the place from where the religion flourished across the globe.
Harjeet Kaur, a tourist operator from Malaysia, on the occasion, said potential tourists especially from Europe and Far East were reluctant to visit Pakistan due to its internal situation and regional conflicts.
The chief priest of Enmanji Temple Japan, Ryoko Nishioka, appreciated the Ministry of Tourism for organising the event and the hospitality extended to the foreign delegates.
He said the Japanese government was ready to extend financial assistance to the Pakistani government for restoration and preservation of Buddhist sites.
Chief Monk of Thailand Phrathe Pankanvee said he was amazed to note the excellent preservation and restoration of the ancient Buddhist sites in Pakistan. He said 90 per cent of the Thai citizens were Buddhists and considered Pakistan their second home.—Amjad Iqbal
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