Five Buddhist countries envoys seek shared reverence for sacred legacy of Lord Buddha
In a powerful celebration of faith, culture and shared civilizational heritage, diplomats, ministers, monks and cultural leaders from five Buddhist nations gathered at the ancient city of Taxila to mark Vesak Day, one of the holiest occasions in the Buddhist world, commemorating the birth, enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha.
The landmark event, jointly organized by the embassies of Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar in collaboration with the Government of Pakistan, featured peace prayers at the historic Dharmarajika Stupa, a high-level conference at Taxila Museum, and renewed commitments to transforming Pakistan’s Gandhara heritage into a global spiritual tourism destination.
Addressing the gathering as chief guest, Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi said Pakistan was proud to be the custodian of one of the world’s richest Buddhist legacies and reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to preserving, restoring and promoting Gandhara civilization. He said the celebration of Vesak at Taxila sent a strong message to the international community that Pakistan was ready to welcome pilgrims, scholars and spiritual seekers from across the world.
Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Ramesh Singh Arora, who attended the ceremony as guest of honour, said Punjab had taken special pride in hosting the international delegates and Buddhist clergy at Taxila, one of humanity’s most treasured archaeological sites. Delivering the keynote address, noted Gandhara heritage promoter Imran Shauket shared his vision of building a $30 billion Buddhist pilgrimage economy around Pakistan’s ancient Gandhara civilization. He outlined a comprehensive roadmap involving visa facilitation for pilgrims and monks, dedicated regional pilgrimage corridors, the establishment of “Gandhara Corners” in major cities worldwide, and the creation of monastic and interfaith meditation zones across Pakistan. He said the goal of attracting five million Buddhist pilgrims over the next decade was realistic if supported by coordinated government policies, international partnerships and sustained infrastructure development. He emphasized that Gandhara was not merely an archaeological inheritance but a living bridge of peace connecting Pakistan to the Buddhist world.
