Lahore: Coordinator to Federal Tax Ombudsman Saif-Ur-Rehman has said Pakistan can earn substantial foreign exchange by fully harnessing its vast potential for religious tourism.
Addressing a round-table conference on ‘Ritual Economy of Pakistan’ organized under the aegis of Zia Snacks Family Food Products here on Sunday,he called for immediate and practical measures to transform the country’s rich religious heritage into a sustainable economic opportunity.
He said civilized nations protected their integrity by respecting all communities and preserving their heritage. Harnessing Pakistan’s religious tourism potential would help create a rich cultural environment while promoting regional harmony and economic prosperity,he added.
Saif-Ur-Rehman said Pakistan needed to market its religious tourism destinations more effectively by improving infrastructure,strengthening conservation,developing curated experiences for pilgrims and introducing an improved regulatory framework.
He said religious and heritage tourism could promote peace,inclusivity and prosperity,particularly in challenging times.
Referring to the annual Hinglaj festival held earlier this year,he said the event attracted around 300,000 devotees to the centuries-old temple in the mountainous terrain of Balochistan,sending a message of interfaith harmony.
He said Pakistan had immense religious tourism potential,ranging from ancient religious sites in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to nearly 500 Hindu temples and important remnants of Jainism and Buddhism,besides sacred Sikh heritage sites.
Saif-Ur-Rehman said this potential remained largely untapped,adding that international religious tourism markets, particularly in Southeast Asia,were still not fully aware of Pakistan’s Buddhist heritage and pilgrimage trails.
He urged the government to promote religious tourism sites held sacred by different communities,particularly Buddhists and Jains,and learn from other South Asian countries that had developed their ancient heritage assets to generate economic activity and foreign exchange.