TAXILA: Pakistan is a great destination for religious tourism as it has major Buddhist heritage sites.

This was stated by Myanmar Ambassador Win Myint while talking to newsmen here at Taxila Museum on Saturday.

Brunei High Commissioner retired Brig General Dato Haji Mahmud Bin Haji Saidin was also present on the occasion.

Mr Myint said Pakistan needed proper awareness and aggressive publicity campaign by its embassies, especially in Buddhist countries, to attract tourists.

The envoy was of the view that every year millions of people around the world annually embark on spiritual journeys.

“Global religious tourism is one of the fastest growing segments in travel today,” he added.

“Pakistan could be a favourite Buddhist religious destination for its more than 520 million followers all over the world,” he said.

The envoy said even before assuming his diplomatic responsibilities in Islamabad, he was not aware that Buddhism had flourished from Taxila or Takshashila university that dated back to the reign of the Kushan dynasty which was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1980.

Brunei High Commissioner retired Brig General Dato Haji Mahmud Bin Haji Saidin said the existence of a large number of Buddhist stupas and monasteries related to ancient Gandhara civilization was very sacred to Buddhists.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2019