Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Senator Talha Mahmood has said that Pakistan is open with vast opportunities for religious tourism. Addressing the International Gandhara Symposium in Islamabad on Wednesday, he invited Buddhists and followers of all other religions to visit their archeological sites in Pakistan. Rejecting the propaganda campaign against the Muslims, Talha Mahmood said Islam is great religion which preaches peace, compassion, tolerance and harmony. He stressed that inter cultural dialogue is essential to foster understanding and mutual respect amongst the nations. Cultural diplomacy enables us to celebrate our shared heritage, he noted. The Minister Religious Affairs said that we should carry forward the torch of cultural diplomacy to promote the message of peace and harmony. “The legacy of Gandhara civilization and Buddhist heritage in Pakistan is not just a relic of the past but it is a guiding light that can illuminate our present and inspire our future,” Mahmood said.
Addressing the symposium, Chairman Prime Minister’s Task Force on Gandhara Tourism Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani said that there is a great potential of Buddhist tourism in Pakistan. A number of Buddhist monks from Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Nepal, South Korea and Sri Lanka are attending the symposium. The monks will also visit Taxila Museum and the archeological sites there.
