World Bank President Ajay Banga visits gurdwara, archeological site in Pakistan

<p> Peshawar, Feb 2 (PTI): World Bank President Ajay Banga visited Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal and an archeological site in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in northwest Pakistan, according to an official statement.</p><p> Muzzamil Aslam, adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM, also held discussions with Banga on the province's economic affairs.</p><p> The World Bank president, accompanied by his spouse and senior officials, visited the Jaulian Buddhist archaeological site at Khanpur in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, a handout said.</p><p> “On this occasion, Adviser to the KP Chief Minister on Finance Muzzammil Aslam and MNA Faisal Amin Gandapur accorded a warm welcome to World Bank President Ajay Banga. Federal Minister for Finance Aurangzeb also participated in the visit along with his spouse,” it further stated.</p><p> During the visit, Aslam presented a shield to the World Bank president and held discussions on the province's economic affairs, it added.</p><p> KP Archaeology Director General Abdul Samad gave a detailed briefing to Banga on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's archaeological heritage, with special emphasis on the Jaulian Buddha site.</p><p> Appreciating the management and services of the archaeological sites, Banga praised Samad’s efforts and assured all possible support for the preservation of the province’s cultural heritage.</p><p> He was also invited to visit other archaeological sites and historical landmarks across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it added.</p><p> Earlier, Banga visited Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, where he offered prayers and had food at the langar khana (community kitchen), according to a press note.</p><p> He was accompanied by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, it added.</p><p> Arora, according to the press note, said the arrival of the World Bank president at gurdwara will send a “positive message”.</p><p> He said that followers of “all religions enjoy complete religious freedom in Pakistan”.</p><p> Arora further stated that on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, work on the beautification and renovation of historical religious places of worship was underway.</p><p> The Punjab government was also taking practical steps to promote religious tourism, he added. PTI AYZ NB NB</p><p><i>(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)</i></p>

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