A 20-member Sri Lankan delegation of academics, Buddhist monks, religious leaders and media representatives visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad today. Foreign Office Spokesperson Ambassador Sajjad Haider Khan and Director General Strategic Communications Tariq Wazeer briefed the visitors on Pakistan’s cultural and religious heritage. They highlighted the Gandhara Buddhist legacy, religious tourism opportunities and initiatives such as the Kartarpur Corridor. The spokesperson also underlined the longstanding Pakistan-Sri Lanka friendship and welcomed the visitors to Pakistan.
Both sides discussed academic partnerships, enhanced connectivity, updated MoUs, joint archaeological explorations and cultural exchanges. Ambassador Khan appreciated the contributions of Imran Shaukat of the Prime Minister’s Taskforce on the Gandhara Cradle of Buddhism Strategy and the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Pakistan, both of whom attended the meeting. The visit reinforced shared efforts to strengthen people-to-people ties and promote the two countries’ common cultural and civilizational heritage.
The engagement shows Pakistan using heritage as a diplomatic asset. Gandhara sites connect Islamabad to Buddhist communities across Asia, and religious tourism adds an economic dividend beyond diplomacy. Turning meetings into signed MoUs and measurable visitor numbers will decide whether this outreach lasts.
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