ISLAMABAD: Nepal Ambassador to Pakistan Tapas Adhikari of Nepal hosted a reception for his Nepali and Pakistani guests to meet and greet the participants of a symposium on Gandhara Civilization taking place at his residence.
The guests included Venerable Pandit Sankichcha, a revered Nepalese monk, Keshabman Shakya, a Pakistani writer and researcher specializing in the Gandhara Civilization, Om Prakash, a former Deputy Mayor of Bhaktapur and political activist, and journalist Kedar Bhattarai, Chief Reporter of Nepal’s esteemed newspaper, Gorkhapatra Daily.
The gathering discussed Pakistan’s significant yet underexplored potential in the Buddhist tourism sector.
Shakya emphasized Gandhara’s global renown among Buddhists and Pakistan’s role as its custodian. He highlighted the challenges hindering tourist influx, such as the absence of monasteries, inadequate infrastructure, and the absence of direct flights between Nepal and Pakistan.
Pandit Sankichcha shared insights from Jataka Stories, underscoring the sacred significance of Taxila (modern-day Takshila) for Buddhists. He envisioned a surge in Buddhist tourism from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam, and other ASEAN countries once obstacles are overcome.
Shakya underscored Ashoka the Great’s pivotal role in propagating Buddhism from Gandhara, advocating for strengthened Nepal-Pakistan Buddhist heritage ties. Om Prakash emphasized Buddhism as a philosophy promoting peace and benevolence, citing the recent celebration of Vaishaka Purnima.
The participants expressed gratitude to Ambassador Adhikari for hosting a delightful dinner and providing a platform to deepen Nepal-Pakistan Buddhist connections.
