A meeting to discuss arrangements for holding the Gandhara Conference in Pakistan in 2026 was held here on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi.
The meeting reviewed in detail the possibilities and opportunities for holding the conference, particularly in view of the government's ongoing austerity measures.
It was decided that the matter would be submitted to the Government for approval, keeping in view the ongoing austerity campaign.
The minister and participants principally agreed to move forward with preparations for holding the Gandhara Conference in Pakistan in 2026. Further deliberations and coordination among the federal and provincial stakeholders would be undertaken to finalise the arrangements.
The meeting was attended by Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Gandhara Task Force Mr Imran Shokat, Secretary National Heritage and Culture Mr Asad Rehman Gillani, Managing Director Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Mr Aftab Rana, and senior officials from the provincial Archaeology and Tourism departments, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Minister said that before the conference, a clear plan should be prepared regarding the Buddhist heritage sites and other places to be visited by international participants and tourists so that necessary arrangements could be made well in advance. He asked the Mr Imran Shokat to consult the governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in this regard.
The participants suggested that Buddhist heritage sites could be developed and presented in a manner similar to established religious heritage destinations, with improved preservation, visitor facilities and interpretation to attract international pilgrims and tourists.
MD PTDC Aftab Rana said the conference was a multi-stakeholder initiative and support and suggestions from all relevant institutions should be sought. He also highlighted the need to explore direct air links with Buddhist-majority countries to facilitate visitors, saying that currently many travellers depend on connecting flights through Middle Eastern countries.
He noted that Pakistan has broader relations with these countries, including educational and student exchange programmes, and direct flights could further strengthen people-to-people contacts.
The Federal Minister expressed his full support for efforts to explore direct flights between Pakistan and relevant Buddhist countries.
Secretary National Heritage and Culture Asad Rehman Gillani said the Ministry would consult all relevant stakeholders and institutions to ensure coordinated arrangements for the conference.
The Minister said the conference was being organised on the directions of the Prime Minister and could provide an opportunity to arrange a range of cultural and heritage-related activities alongside the main event, which could also contribute to economic activity and revenue generation.
He said several Buddhist countries had expressed interest in visa-on-arrival facilities and stressed that the Ministry of Interior would have an important role in this regard. He added that he had already written to the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs on the matter.
The Minister also suggested the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to seek relevant information and support from Pakistani diplomatic missions in Buddhist countries.
He emphasised the need to provide modern facilities for international visitors, including suitable accommodation, food arrangements and digital or 3D experiences at historical sites.
Imran Shokat said he was in contact with the ambassadors of Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam and Nepal regarding the conference and related arrangements.
The provincial representatives welcomed the Federation's decision to hold the conference and assured their full cooperation and support in making the event successful.
The participants observed that the conference would provide an opportunity to project Pakistan's cultural heritage and soft image at the international level. They suggested organising cultural programmes and other activities alongside the conference to provide international visitors and Buddhist monks with a broader experience of Pakistan's diverse cultural heritage.
The participants also discussed arrangements for visits of Buddhist monks and other conference participants to important Buddhist heritage sites in Pakistan, including Taxila and Swat.
Imran Shokat said consultations would also be held with Buddhist monks regarding their proposed visits. He said that many monks were expected to participate in the conference.
The participants noted that the proposed conference would be a significant international gathering focused on Pakistan's Gandhara and Buddhist heritage and would provide an opportunity to highlight the country's rich cultural heritage and strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties with Buddhist countries.
