ISLAMABAD, Jul 11 (APP): President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday said Pakistan offered the world a valuable window to Gandhara civilization with its unique blend of ancient history, and the Buddha’s message of peace and compassion.
“In today’s world where hatred is on the rise and increasing polarization is fueling conflicts, it’s time to rediscover the role of cultural diplomacy to promote dialogue among civilizations,” he said in his address here at the three-day Gandhara Symposium 2023.
The symposium titled ‘Cultural Diplomacy: Reviving Gandhara Civilization and Buddhist Heritage in Pakistan’ was organized by Prime Minister’s Task Force on Gandhara Tourism, Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), and the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The event gathered monks and inter-faith experts from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand, China, Malaysia, South Korea and Vietnam with an objective to explore Pakistan’s rich Buddhist legacy and create an enabling environment for Gandhara tourism.
President Alvi said Buddha’s quest rekindles the spirit of inner reflection with a precept to abstain from taking lives of the living beings and caring for the environment.
He highlighted that the Gandhara civilization, which thrived in Pakistan centuries ago, could serve as an informative place for the visitors from across the globe to explore exquisite Buddhist sites.
He urged collaborative efforts to raise awareness about the inclusive and multicultural nature of Gandhara civilization and help the society to absorb diversity of cultures.
The president welcomed the Buddhist monks in the country, hoping that their presence would relay a message of peace and cross-cultural harmony.
Minister of State, Chairman of the PM Task Force on Gandhara TourismRamesh Kumar Vankwani said the Gandhara civilization continues to mesmerize from all over the world and emphasized the need to preserve and revive the historic Buddhist relics.
He said cultural diplomacy helped foster understanding and tradition among civilizations and expressed confidence that the symposium would act as an effective platform in promoting Pakistan’s heritage.
Director General ISSI Sohail Mahmood in his welcome address said Gandhara civilization, situated at the crossroads of ancient trade routes, served as a melting pot of diverse cultures and civilizations. He said preserving and promoting the Buddhist Gandhara heritage was of paramount importance for Pakistan.
The key objectives of the symposium include creating awareness about Gandhara and fostering a sense of appreciation for Pakistan’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, both domestically and abroad. Also, it focuses on considering new initiatives that reinforce the country’s cultural diplomacy efforts and help promote tourism, particularly faith tourism.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Gandhara civilization is its artistic creativity. The re-discovered cities of the Gandhara civilization exhibit many elements of their well-structured and modern lives through paintings, sculptures, coins, pottery and their relation with Buddhism.
Later, during Session I of the Gandhara Symposium on the theme ‘Pathways to Peace: Exploring Pakistan’s Rich Buddhist Legacy, the speakers including religious scholars and faith leaders from Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Nepal, Sri Lanka and China highlighted that Gandhara has been a major centre for Buddhist learning and education and recommended preserving the Buddhist Gandhara heritage in Pakistan as well as continued efforts for its projection as part of world heritage.
Session II discussed ‘Gandhara Civilization: Celebrating Pakistan’s Buddhist Heritage.’ The presenters comprised experts, faith leaders and religious scholars who emphasized that Buddhist Gandhara heritage is paramount to Pakistan. Pakistan is blessed with rich culture and is a hub of civilisations.
The Punjab and Sindh provinces have landmark historical sites with excellent archaeological research and spiritual tourism opportunities. Pakistan’s Buddhist legacy offers a pathway to peace, harmony and tranquility. The best way to preserve cultural heritage is to share it with the world and allow them to be part of this world.
The panelists suggested that the Buddhist Heritage has economic potential and educational attraction. They recommended promoting Gandhara heritage to the world and creating economic opportunities for Pakistan.
The speakers stressed that we must try to dispel the misconceptions about Pakistan in the context of security situation and build trust among Buddhist people so that they can come to Pakistan from around the world.
Session III delved into ways of ‘Promoting Tourism: Creating an Enabling Environment.’ Experts from Pakistan’s tourism industry and think-tanks were invited as speakers.
The panelists agreed that efforts need to be put in place to develop the tourist industry of Pakistan on sounder basis that also helps presents a positive image of the country. They suggested that special attention should be given to various tourism-related matters such as visa regimes, film and media, hospitality, culinary, museums, tours and tourist centers to promote the potential of Gandhara tourism in Pakistan.
Lastly, a panel of religious experts, academics, curators, faith leaders and other stakeholders gathered for a Round Table on ‘Gandhara Civilization: Opportunities and Challenges.’ The points stressed during the Round Table included: Pakistan is a safe place for tourism, and this Symposium conveys the requisite message aptly. Pakistan is going to start Gandhara Tourism, and it is ready to collaborate with other countries to enhance B2B and P2P exchanges.
The Round Table concluded that the lack of security structure, deficits in awareness and marketing, needed funds for preservation and restoration, unsupervised hotels, underdeveloped roads, tourist safety, and lack of modern tourism infrastructure are a few of the challenges.
It was felt that the holding of the Gandhara Symposium 2023 had made the beginning toward raising global awareness about Gandhara, addressing the mentioned challenges, and seizing the immense opportunities before them.