Islamabad:
The Gandhara Culture Festival brought Pakistan’s old heritage to life and celebrated the legacy of Gandhara civilization while promoting eco-tourism.
The festival included a magnificent exhibition of Gandhara artifacts, including sculptures, coins, ceramics, paintings and photography exhibitions. Visitors explored the artistic and historical significance of Gandhara’s rich heritage and gained insight into its cultural and historical impact.
The event, followed by the great launch of the project “Promotion of Gandhara’s civilization and inheritance for eco-tourism”, marked a significant step in preserving Pakistan’s historical treasures and increasing tourism.
One of the main attractions was a corner of a Hindu community where visitors were captivated by devoted Bhajans performed with traditional musical instruments that symbolized the harmony of interreligion.
The event was organized by Kurrum Welfare Houses and Pakistan Poverty Relief Fund (PPAF), in collaboration with Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), Prime Minister’s Youth Program (PMYP), on PNCA on Wednesday. Parliamentary secretary, Farah Naz Akbar, inaugurated the festival, and robbed the initiative for his role in promoting cultural tourism and unity among various communities.
“It is heartfelt to see that booths from seven different cultural communities are part of this festival showing Pakistan’s rich and diverse inheritance,” she noted. She also highlighted the government’s “Uraan Pakistan” initiative led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aiming to drive national progress through cultural and economic growth.
PPAF management director, Nadir Yellow, emphasized the organization’s commitment to poverty reduction in 150 districts, providing livelihood opportunities for people with all backgrounds. He highlighted PPAF’s initiatives in Chitral and Balochistan with a focus on education, health and cultural preservation.
PTDC CEO Rana Aftab emphasized the global significance of Gandhara Heritage in Peshawar, Swat and Taxila Valley. He noted that over 500 million Buddhists around the world consider this region sacred, making it an important destination for religious tourism.
