THE plan of the Government to establish a Gandhara Cultural Authority to serve as the focal point for all international and intra-provincial coordination to promote Gandhara civilization as well as facilitation of tourists. Among the main functions of the proposed authority will be to approach universities and cultural offices around the world to promote research work on Gandhara civilisation.
Generally, symposia and seminars are organized merely as a PR exercise and their reports based on suggestions and recommendations of the local and international delegates are left to rot in bookshelves but Chairman of the PM’s Task Force on Gandhara Tourism, Dr Ramesh Vankwani, deserves appreciation for serious consideration of the input given at the first international ‘Gandhara Symposium’. According to Dr Ramesh, the Authority is being set up in the light of the proposals given by prominent scholars and experts and it is expected to go a long way in promoting religious tourism and presenting a soft image of the country in the comity of nations. Pakistan is a custodian of some of the most sacred shrines and religious heritages of Sikh, Buddhist and Hindu religions and proudly offers a great opportunity for religious tourism to common tourists and religious devotees from across the world. Religious tourism is an important factor in the world economy as it generates a flow of wealth through travel, boarding, lodging, visits to religious sites, participation in religious events and missionary tours. The proposed authority can surely take care of a major segment of religious tourism if it is fully empowered and extended necessary cooperation both by the federal and provincial governments. This and similar other entities would hopefully come out with a comprehensive plan to promote all aspects of religious tourism including provision of necessary facilities, guidance, information material, availability of relevant souvenirs and development of worship places at religious sites.
