A three-day International Gandhara symposium is commencing in Islamabad tomorrow to showcase treasure trove Gandhara Civilization and Buddhist Heritage in Pakistan.

This was announced by Chairman Prime Minister's Task Force on Gandhara Tourism Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, flanked with a delegation of Budhist monks from Vietnam, in the federal capital this afternoon.

The Chairman said Pakistan is fully safe for tourists, offering rich cultural heritage of ancient Gandhara Civilization. He said promotion of religious tourism will lead to enhanced commercial activities and attract foreign exchange. He said the symposium will also help promote soft image of the country and provide connectivity with the world.

Speaking on the occasion, the Budhist Monks from Vietnam commended Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his government for facilitating Bhudhist people and followers of other faiths to explore Gandhara Civilization and sites of Budhism in Pakistan. They said there will be more travelers in future to visit the cultural heritage of Pakistan. They urged media to play its due role in promoting the Gandhra Civlization and Pakistan's potential for religious tourism.

The delegation also take a round of the Islamabad Museum and showed keen interest in Pakistan's Buddhist heritage.

It is pertinent to mention that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will address the inaugural session of symposium. 

The objective of the symposium is to raise global awareness about the historical and cultural significance of the Gandhara civilization and Buddhist heritage in Pakistan.

A number of Buddhist monks from Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Nepal, South Korea and Sri Lanka would attend the symposium.

The title of the event is "Cultural Diplomacy: Reviving Gandhara Civilization and Buddhist Heritage in Pakistan".