WB vice president visits Taxila heritage sites, praises Gandhara legacy

TAXILA: A high-level international delegation led by World Bank Vice President Mamta Murthi visited key archaeological and cultural heritage sites in Taxila and nearby Khanpur on Monday, expressing keen interest in the ancient Gandhara civilisation and ongoing efforts to preserve Pakistan’s historical legacy.

The delegation toured the Taxila Museum, the ancient city of Sirkap, the Dharmarajika Stupa and the historic Buddhist monastery of Julian Stupa, officials said.

At Taxila Museum, the delegation was received by officials from the Department of Archaeology and was briefed on the museum’s collection of Gandhara-era artefacts, rare antiquities and its role in preserving the region’s cultural heritage.

Members of the delegation toured various galleries and viewed artefacts associated with Buddhist civilisation and Gandhara art.

The visitors later toured Sirkap and Dharmarajika Stupa, both part of the UNESCO-listed Taxila archaeological complex, where officials outlined the historical significance of the sites and ongoing conservation measures aimed at protecting them.

The delegation also visited the Julian Buddhist monastery near Khanpur, one of the most significant archaeological sites associated with the Gandhara civilisation.

During the visit, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Director General Archaeology Abdul Samad briefed the visitors on the site’s archaeological, religious and cultural importance, as well as ongoing preservation projects and tourism potential.

Abdul Samad said that landmarks such as Taxila and Julian represented an important part of Pakistan’s civilisational heritage and that visits by international organisations and dignitaries helped raise global awareness of the country’s archaeological wealth while supporting efforts to promote cultural tourism.

Officials said that the visit highlighted growing international interest in Pakistan’s Buddhist heritage and underscored the importance of preserving historical sites that attract researchers, pilgrims and tourists from around the world.

The visit was seen as a step toward enhancing international recognition of Taxila’s world-renowned heritage sites and encouraging broader appreciation of Pakistan’s centuries-old cultural and historical legacy.