Imran Shauket receives Tourism & Excellence Award 202
The Government of Punjab has acknowledged the exemplary contributions of Mr. Imran Shauket, a son of the soil who has dedicated his life for promotion of Pakistan’s soft image globally and continues to attract international tourists—particularly the Buddhist pilgrims—to the country’s rich heritage sites in Taxila, Peshawar, and Swat.
In this regard, Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, on behalf of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, presented Mr. Imran Shauket with the Punjab Tourism & Excellence Award 2026 at a ceremony held in connection with the “Magnificent Punjab Tourism & Investment Expo 2026.”
According to an official communication issued by the Punjab Tourism, Archaeology and Museums Department, the award recognizes and celebrates outstanding contributions, achievements, and excellence in Pakistan’s travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors. Mr. Shauket’s extensive work in promoting Buddhist tourism and highlighting Pakistan’s ancient Gandhara Civilization was specifically acknowledged as a significant contribution to the industry.
With a professional background in the development sector, including advisory roles with USAID and Pakistan’s Ministry of Health, Imran Shauket has dedicated over a decade to tourism promotion. His 10-year efforts span more than 100 initiatives, including hosting Buddhist monks in Pakistan, engaging international investors, and delivering lectures across countries such as Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and the United States to counter misconceptions about Pakistan.
In an exclusive interview with Pakistan Observer, Imran Shauket said it was quite encouraging to see that the government is realizing the huge potential in the tourism and hospitality sector particularly the Buddhist tourism. He was of the view that Pakistan’s Gandhara heritage holds immense economic potential, estimating that Buddhist tourism could generate between $20-$30 billion in revenue annually.
Imran has actively worked with overseas Pakistani diaspora communities, encouraging them to contribute positively to the country’s image.
Additionally, he has collaborated with Pakistan’s foreign missions to effectively present the country’s cultural and historical richness, including establishing “Pakistan Corners” and “Gandhara Corners” abroad to attract international tourists.
However, he noted that achieving this target needed collective efforts and then it might take up to a decade with consistent policy support and infrastructure development.
He expressed gratitude to the Punjab government, particularly the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP), for recognizing his efforts. He also shared that the provincial authorities, including officials associated with the Green Tourism Initiative, have shown keen interest in collaborating to promote Buddhist tourism.
Highlighting recent progress, Shauket said that a clear roadmap has now been developed at the government level to build a robust tourism sector centered on Gandhara heritage and to facilitate Buddhist pilgrimage to Pakistan.
“This is a huge achievement,” he said, expressing optimism that Pakistan will witness a significant surge in international tourism in the coming years, particularly from Buddhist-majority countries, bringing substantial economic benefits and strengthening the country’s global image.
