ISLAMABAD, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 30th Jul, 2026) Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi on Thursday said Pakistan would position itself as a leading global destination for Buddhist heritage tourism by preserving and promoting the Gandhara civilisation through a comprehensive national strategy being implemented under the direct oversight of Prime Minister.
Chairing the inaugural meeting of the Task Force on the Gandhara – Cradle of Buddhism (GCOB) Strategy, the minister said the Prime Minister had taken a special interest in safeguarding Pakistan’s Gandhara heritage and would personally review the progress of the strategy on monthly basis to ensure its effective implementation.
The task force, constituted with the approval of the Prime Minister, discussed a comprehensive roadmap to project Pakistan as the true guardian and custodian of the Gandhara civilisation while promoting the country’s rich Buddhist heritage and expanding cultural and religious tourism.
The meeting was attended by Secretary National Heritage and Culture Division Asad Rehman Gilani, representatives of the Ministries of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Foreign Affairs and Interior, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), provincial culture and heritage departments, the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Gandhara Task Force Coordinator Imran Shaukat and other members.
Khichi called upon all federal and provincial stakeholders to work in close coordination to achieve the objectives of the initiative, particularly urging Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the heartland of the Gandhara civilisation, to continue their cooperation in preserving and promoting the country’s Buddhist heritage.
He emphasized the need to establish specialized task forces to focus on different aspects of the Gandhara Strategy and said Pakistan must effectively communicate to the international community that it is the rightful guardian and custodian of the Gandhara civilisation.
The minister directed the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony to complete its assigned responsibilities, saying several components of the strategy would be developed in light of its recommendations.
He also instructed all stakeholders to complete their respective assignments before the next meeting.
Coordinator of the Gandhara Task Force, Imran Shaukat said he had been working on the Gandhara Project for nearly eight years and stressed that its objective was not only to preserve one of the world’s greatest civilisations but also to highlight Pakistan’s rightful role as its custodian.
He said Buddhist monks from countries including Canada, Sri Lanka, Australia and Vietnam had shown interest in visiting Pakistan and stressed the need to provide better facilities for pilgrims.
He also proposed preparing a Buddhist religious Calendar to facilitate arrangements for important religious events, adding that Buddhist countries could themselves generate significant investment for the initiative.
Representatives of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa presented proposals highlighting important Buddhist heritage sites and ongoing conservation efforts. Punjab officials requested the inclusion of the historic Mankiala Stupa among the officially promoted Buddhist sites and underscored the role of cultural diplomacy in introducing Gandhara heritage to the world, while offering to host related events.
The representative of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assured the meeting of the provincial government’s full cooperation in preserving and promoting Gandhara heritage. Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the need for a comprehensive facilitation package for international Buddhist pilgrims and visitors, while Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) proposed developing hotel infrastructure around Taxila and engaging professional tour operators to strengthen Buddhist tourism.
The representatives of Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony said the initiative would be promoted under the framework of interfaith harmony and suggested adopting best practices from the Kartarpur Corridor model to facilitate religious pilgrims.
Secretary National Heritage and Culture Division Asad Rehman Gilani assured the participants that the ministry would expedite implementation of all decisions and assigned tasks in accordance with the directions of the Federal Minister.
