Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Secretary Dr Abdul Samad briefs World Bank President Ajay Pal Singh Banga on the historical significance and development plans of the Julian Stupa in Khanpur. PhotoExpress
TAXILE:
World Bank President Ajay Pal Singh Banga on Sunday visited the Julian Stupa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Khanpur, as part of his official tour of Pakistan.
Banga arrived in Pakistan on a four-day high-level visit, during which he visited several official and cultural monuments. His visit began on February 1 and will continue until February 4.
During his stay, he is expected to meet the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Federal Finance Minister and other senior officials. Discussions are expected to focus on economic reforms, development cooperation and regional projects.
As part of the visit, Banga also performed religious rites at the Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, where members of the Sikh community offered him syrupa. Subsequently, his delegation visited the ancient Buddhist archaeological site of Julian Stupa in Khanpur.
The delegation was received by Secretary Tourism Dr Abdul Samad, Commissioner Hazara, Deputy Commissioner Haripur, DIG Hazara Division, DPO Haripur, Deputy Commissioner Khanpur, Syed Niaz Ali Bacha, and Site In-charge of Julian Stupa, Raja Adnan.
Dr. Abdul Samad briefed the guests on the historical significance of the Julian Stupa, explaining that it was an ancient Buddhist university and monastery dating back to the second century AD.
He said the site still preserves the remains of a central stupa, several smaller platforms and monastic structures, reflecting the rich heritage of the Gandhara civilization.
During the visit, the WB chief and his delegation also inspected other sites related to geology and archeology and reviewed the ongoing efforts to preserve the cultural heritage of KP.
