ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi on Thursday chaired the inaugural meeting of a task force established to implement a strategy to promote Pakistan’s rich Gandhara heritage and strengthen cultural tourism.

A statement issued by the ministry said the task force, constituted with the approval of the prime minister, brought together key federal and provincial stakeholders, including representatives of the ministries of religious affairs, foreign affairs and interior, as well as officials of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), provincial culture departments and the Department of Archaeology and Museums.

The meeting focused on developing a comprehensive roadmap to position Pakistan as a leading global destination for Buddhist heritage tourism and as the custodian of the ancient Gandhara civilisation.

Addressing the participants, the minister said the prime minister had taken a keen interest in preserving and promoting Gandhara heritage and would personally review progress on a monthly basis. He urged all stakeholders to work in close coordination and deliver tangible results.

He particularly acknowledged the role of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the historical heartland of Gandhara, and called for their continued cooperation in preserving and showcasing key archaeological sites.

Mr Khichi emphasised the need to establish specialised sub-groups to address different aspects of conservation, tourism development and international outreach. He also directed the relevant ministries to complete their assigned tasks before the next meeting.

Task force coordinator Imran Shaukat informed the participants that efforts to promote Gandhara had been underway for nearly eight years.

He said the initiative aimed not only to preserve the heritage but also to project Pakistan as the rightful custodian of this important civilisation.

Highlighting growing international interest, he noted that Buddhist monks from countries such as Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Australia and Canada were keen to visit Pakistan. He stressed the need for better facilities and proposed the development of a Buddhist religious calendar to facilitate pilgrimages.

Provincial representatives presented proposals identifying key heritage sites and outlining ongoing conservation work.

Punjab officials suggested including the historic Mankiala Stupa among the officially promoted sites and offered to host cultural events in support of the initiative.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2026