Together For Peace

Staff report: *Govt committed to protecting rights of minorities: Zardari* - Daily Times - Pakistan
Thursday, March 25, 2010

President for preserving, developing ancient cultural heritage of Gandhara to promote inter-faith harmony, revive tourism industry

Islamabad: The government is committed to protecting the rights and privileges of minorities, as enshrined in the constitution to bring them into the mainstream of national life, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Wednesday.

Talking to a 10-member delegation of the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) led by its Secretary General Phallop Thaiarry at the Presidency, Zardari said the government had taken vigorous steps to protect the rights of minorities, which included allocation of five percent quota in government jobs, twofold increase in minorities’ development fund, establishment of skills development centres, commemoration of August 11 as the Minority Day and establishment of inter-faith harmony committees at the district level across the country.

Preservation: The president said that the government was keen to preserve and develop the ancient cultural heritage of Gandhara, not only as a means to promote inter-faith harmony but also to revive tourism in the country.

He said the Buddhist stupas (dome-shaped monument, used to house Buddhist relics) and monasteries in Gandhara, which are very sacred for Buddhists, are an important part of our historic culture.

He said the government had always welcomed tourists and foreign visitors to these sacred religious sites in Pakistan. Zardari also appreciated the various steps proposed by the WFB to promote Gandhara heritage of Pakistan, which included the establishment of a Gandhara chair in any of the renowned universities, association of the WFB with some of Pakistani institutions and the translation of literature on Gandhara.

Referring to the link between the civilisations of Pakistan and Thailand, the president said that the two countries enjoy cordial relations and had worked together for peace and regional stability.

Talking to Daily Times, Dr Anil Sakya, who is a monk by birth and is part of the WFB delegation, said that Buddhism and Sufism of the sub-continent had almost similar methodology. “Some elements of Sufism might be influenced by Buddhist practice,” he said. “I was born in Katmandu (Nepal) in 1960. I started my practices as a monk when I was 14 years old,” said Dr Anil, who has done his doctorate in anthropology.

He said a monk has to learn so many teachings based on meditation and self-control, however, modern education is also part of monks’ syllabus.

He seemed quite satisfied with the security arrangements made for his delegation in Pakistan. “We have visited Taxila. The people of Pakistan are friendly and kind,” he said.

Phallop Thiarry told Daily Times at a dinner arranged by the Ministry of Tourism at Damn-e-Koh that it was a great opportunity for him and his delegation to visit the culturally rich country.

“It is my first trip to Pakistan, and people here are very nice and friendly,” he said.

[Picture: map of ancient India. Photo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhara]