Gandhara Symposium, A revolutionary Step towards Religious Tourism in Pakistan
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province hides many precious assets of Gandhara civilization in its foothills; this region is very rich in the ancient cultural heritage of this civilization. In past, there is no consideration for this hidden gem of this region but now the government pays a special attention to finding and restoring the cultural heritage of Gandhara Civilization. The Directorate of Archeology and Museum, Government of KPK, Institute of Strategic Studie Islamabad and the PM Task Force on Gandhara Tourism hosted a 3-day Gandhara Symposium in Islamabad from 11th July to 13th July to promote religious tourism in this region. The title of conference was “Cultural Diplomacy; Reviving of Gandhara Civilization and Buddhist Heritage in Pakistan”.
The guests were arrived from Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Nepal, Sri Lanka, China and Pakistan. The spiritual leaders of Buddhism, their religious scholars, archeologists from all over the world, experts of excavation in Gandhara Civilization’s artifacts and many curators shed the light on the fact how rich this region in heritage of Buddhism and Gandhara Civilization.
The 3-day symposium inaugurated by President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi on 11th July in Serena Hotel Islamabad, The president welcomed the monks from all over the world, he stated that Pakistan has numerous Buddhist artifacts. The Great Buddha and his teachings preached only peace and harmony as the other religions in the world, we have to promote religious tourism and harmony across the world, the world needs to shun the course of conflicts.
Chairman PM Task Force on Gandhara Civilization Dr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani said in his opening speech that Gandhara Symposium is a small and initiative step towards his Gandhara Dream, it is just the beginning and we aim to bring in flights of these tourists landing in Islamabad every day. He said through cultural diplomacy, we can build bridges and foster greater understanding through religious harmony. I want to bring thousands of Buddhist Monks to Taxila every year to perform their religious virtues. We will take bold steps to promote religious tourism in our country.
After Inaugural Session, there were three more sessions on day one. In the first session of the Gandhara Symposium 2023, Dr. Abdul Samad, Director of Archaeology and Museums in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, moderated a panel comprising esteemed Buddhist leaders from Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal, South Korea, and Sri Lanka. The primary aim of the symposium was to display Pakistan as a significant destination for religious tourism, promoting religious harmony by highlighting its importance to Muslims and other faiths. The session emphasized the profound connection between Gandhara and the story of Buddhism, particularly the Great Buddha.
The session drew attention to the under appreciation of Gandhara within modern Buddhism. It stressed the need to raise awareness and promote the significance of this historical region among the global Buddhist community. The session delved into the pathways to peace by exploring Pakistan’s rich Buddhist legacy. It positioned the country as a hub for religious tourism, fostering interfaith harmony and inviting visitors to connect with the profound heritage of Gandhara.
The second session of the Gandhara Symposium focused on Pakistan’s Buddhist heritage and was moderated by Dr. Nadeem Omar, an expert in culture and development. The panel discussed Pakistan’s emergence as a custodian of the Gandhara civilization and its promotion of multiculturalism.
The panel acknowledged Pakistan’s rich culture and history, which has made it a renowned center of civilizations. The strong Buddhist heritage in Pakistan has played a vital role in fostering interfaith harmony, both in the past and today. The government’s efforts to develop and protect the Gandhara sites have not only boosted tourism but also facilitated educational and economic opportunities for local communities. These initiatives have also led to collaborations with neighboring Buddhist countries, contributing to Pakistan’s aspirations of becoming a hub for religious tourism and strengthening bilateral relations.
The focus of the third session at Gandhara Symposium 2023 was on creating an enabling environment to promote tourism. Mr. Kamran Lashari, former Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Director General of Walled City, Lahore, expertly moderated the session.
The panelists engaged in a discussion about how Pakistan is perceived in foreign countries and the growing interest among foreigners to explore Pakistani culture through various forms of media. They acknowledged the significant role played by media in promoting Pakistan’s positive image and showcasing its beautiful sites and landscapes. However, they also highlighted the existing challenges that hinder Pakistan’s tourism industry from reaching its full potential.
Day 2 of the Gandhara Symposium 2023 featured the fourth session, moderated by Dr. Asma Ibrahim, head of ICOM Pakistan. The panel consisted of experts in cultural and religious affairs from different countries. This session focused on preserving the past and envisioning the future, with an emphasis on sustainability.
During the discussion, one of the panelists highlighted the significance of preserving the Gandhara heritage for Pakistan. They emphasized that such preservation efforts contribute to the development of a national identity, community identity, and individual identity. The representative from the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation shared their organization’s commitment to preserving Gandhara and harnessing its immense potential as a historical treasure and valuable tourism resource. Collaborative projects with Pakistan focus on research and development, capacity building for the Gandhara region, site inventory and investigation, and other innovative activities.
The Gandhara Symposium 2023 concluded with closing remarks from notable figures, including Chief Guest Senator Talha Mahmood, Dr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani (Chairman of the PM Task Force on Gandhara Tourism), and Dr. Abdul Samad (Director of Archaeology and Museums, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).
Senator Talha Mahmood expressed gratitude to the esteemed monks, scholars, and cultural experts who graced the conference. He praised the organizers for creating a platform that fostered an exchange of enlightening ideas, ensuring a promising future for Gandhara heritage in Pakistan. As the custodian and home to early urban cultures, Pakistan holds a special responsibility in preserving and showcasing this invaluable heritage.
Dr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani emphasized the opportune moment to capitalize on the greatness of Gandhara heritage. He pledged a commitment to safeguard this unique legacy for the benefit of humanity, recognizing its profound impact on promoting cultural understanding.
Dr. Abdul Samad highlighted the remarkable potential of religious tourism in Pakistan and the country’s influential role in cultural diplomacy. He emphasized that Pakistan has the power to promote peace and interfaith harmony in a world often divided by differences.
After the session, the honorable guests were given a tour to the Taxila Museum. As Taxila has deep roots of Buddhism and its artefacts. The guests paid a huge gratitude to the officials who contributed in promoting the religious tourism. The day two of Gandhara Symposium ended with the tour of Buddhist monks from 31 countries to the famous Dharmarajika Stupa in Taxila. At the end of the day two, the Gandhara Cultural Nights was celebrated in National Arts Council in the honor of vulnerable guests.
On the last day of the Gandhara Symposium 2023, the esteemed guests went to Takht Bhai an ancient and important city of Buddhist heritage. The guests enjoyed their and paid respect to their sacred places. The guests were impressed by the efforts of the officials who made this tour possible and accessible for them. On the last, the guests were taken to the Peshawar Museum who has a great asset of Gautama Buddha and Buddhist heritage.
This symposium will be construct a positive image of Pakistan to the world, this will help us to tell the world that Pakistan is a safe country for tourists. It will open the gates for religious and cultural tourism and harmony, which will effect on Pakistan’s economy as well. Pakistan has vast cultures, heritage of many religions and assets of many ancient civilizations, this time we have to promote it to make our country progressive.