ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Wednesday said that Pakistan was committed to preserving its Buddhist heritage and would encourage joint efforts to promote and protect these historical sites.
“Collaborative projects in archaeological research and cultural tourism can bring greater awareness to these landmarks. By working together, we can ensure that these sites are not only preserved but also celebrated as part of our collective human history,” he said while addressing at a dinner hosted for the international delegates to symposium “From Gandhara to the World”.
Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan is a proud custodian of several significant Buddhist sites located in Gandhara, Taxila, Swat valley and Takht Bhai and added that these sites were once the thriving centers of Buddhists scholarships which attracted the monks and played a pivotal role in the dissemination of Buddhist teachings across Asia.
He called for building stronger bond of friendship with predominantly Buddhists states by fostering cultural exchange programme, religious tourism and educational collaborations.
Ishaq Dar also urged to take joint stand against the forces of intolerance, violence and hatred and emphasized to establish a joint forum in this regard.