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TAXILA: The Punjab government plans to promote religious tourism and in first phase different initiatives have been taken to woo Sikh tourists.
According to official sources, the government has evolved a strategy in collaboration with the Punjab Planning and Development Board, provincial departments of tourism, archives, archaeology and Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) to exploit the potential of this form of tourism.
The province has important religious worship places for Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus.
The ETPB deputy secretary for shrines, Syed Faraz Abbass, while talking to Dawn on Friday said the tourism would not only give a boost to national but provincial economy as well.
Sikh religion’s most sacred places like Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Darbar Sahib (Kartarpur) and Gurdwara Dera Sahib are located in Taxila, he said.
Being custodian body of minorities’ religious places, ETPB would extend all technical and administrative support to the provincial tourism authorities in this regard.
Published in Dawn, October 11th , 2014
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Comments (22) Closed
Oct 11, 2014 04:02pm
It is a rare tourism model but a very good initiative. While encouraging tourism, law and order aspect shall be taken care of to ensure regular and sustainable flow of tourists from across the globe.
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Oct 11, 2014 04:50pm
Excellent step!
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Oct 11, 2014 06:21pm
This is an excellent step. God bless the Govt of Pakistan for this blessed step.
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Oct 11, 2014 06:43pm
Good step!! If security situation in pakistan improves it's my life long dream to visit pakistan! My grandfather has spent his his whole live talking about Rawalpindi! I will definitely come!!
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Oct 11, 2014 06:48pm
Great idea!
However, as a gesture of goodwill towards Indians in general and the Sikhs in particular, the Punjab government should dedicate an important crossing or a major road, or any worthwhile monument to the memory of a great martyr of Punjab, Bhaghat Singh.
It will not only show the magnanimous spirit of Punjab but will also improve tourism in Punjab.
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Oct 11, 2014 07:04pm
Excellent Step by the Govt. Much appreciated!!!!
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Oct 11, 2014 07:31pm
Why limit yourself to religious tourism. Why no tourism in general?
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Oct 11, 2014 08:05pm
Good job!
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Oct 11, 2014 08:14pm
We should have done this long time ago.
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Oct 11, 2014 09:32pm
First comes tolerance, then will come tourism. A society of intolerant people won't help in promoting tourism. Tourism cannot promote tolerance because it focuses on monetary gains, while tolerance is based on people's genuineness about accepting others with an open mind.
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Oct 11, 2014 10:21pm
Taxila is so beautiful and peaceful that even we Pakistanis can't help falling in love with the place on first visit!
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Oct 11, 2014 10:24pm
they will get whitewash even in coming test series as well.
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Oct 11, 2014 11:07pm
This is EXCELLENT news! I wish them every success and am looking forward to visiting some of the places (Tilla Jogian especially).
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Oct 12, 2014 12:58am
Tourism to flourish it also needs 'clean & affordable' hotel accommodation!
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Oct 12, 2014 01:15am
Excellent idea.
Please also put some emphasis in protecting the lives of the hapless minorities.
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Oct 12, 2014 01:16am
Like Nalanda university which India has redeveloped and restarted, Pakistan should also look into funding Taxila university which was a great International university in olden days
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Oct 12, 2014 01:29am
A step in the right direction! Keep it up!
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Oct 12, 2014 02:22am
Punjab which always has promoted "Religious Extremism" will now promote "Religious Tourism". Interesting!
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Oct 12, 2014 07:07am
First of all, it is a great initiative that Pakistani Government is planning to take. It will definitely be a good source of income . Along with that it will help make Pakistani people become more aware of other religions. Eventually it will help increase tolerance for others and ultimately it will create peace.
Secondly, there is a place called "Tilla Jogian". That place belongs to Guru Gorakhnath. He was a great spiritual personality. His teachings were so complicated and were of such a high level that even now a days people are not able to understand it completely. This is the reason behind the famous saying,"EH TAAN GORAKH DHANDHA HAI"
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Oct 12, 2014 07:23am
Congratulations to my Punjabi brothers. The Punjab government is moving on the right track. Punjab soil is blessed with some of the earliest known religions to us humans. The legendary Vedas were written in Punjab in taksisilla or Taxila when Punjab was known as Sapta Sindhu. Hinduism took form in the then early Punjab and the legend of Mahabharat took place in Punjab. Buddism absolutely flourished in the early Punjab with dozens of buddhists site still present in Punjab. Then Islam flourished in Punjab ad some of the best mosques ad mausoleums in the world are found in Punjab. What became really unique in Punjab was Punjabi Sufism or Tawassuf. Punjabi like Baba Bulleh Shah took Sufism to another level. Then Sikhism arose. This wholesome and complete Punjabi religion founded by Punjabis for Punjabis.
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Oct 12, 2014 08:28am
Prior to the religious tourism , promote religious tolerance otherwise it will be another failed initiative
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Oct 12, 2014 09:05am
Wonderful efforts, such type of activities will not only generate tourism but also relation between the two countries also will be strengthen. I do not know why but have strong belief both the nation will realize the blunder of 1947, when separation took place for the benefit of some greedy and political leaders. The day will come when we eliminate the borders and merge again..
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