Pakistan and Sri Lanka have agreed to expand cultural cooperation with a focus on promoting religious tourism, including plans for joint cultural exhibitions and heritage programs, officials said on Tuesday (January 13).

The understanding was reached during a meeting in Islamabad between Pakistan’s National Heritage and Culture Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi and Sri Lankan Ambassador to Pakistan Rear Admiral (retd) Fred Seneviratne.

Pakistan, home to sacred sites for multiple faiths, offers religious tourism opportunities for Sikhs, Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims. The country hosts Islamic shrines, Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras and globally significant Buddhist heritage sites spread across regions such as Taxila and Lahore.

Pakistan’s National Heritage and Culture Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi and Sri Lankan Ambassador to Pakistan Rear Admiral (retd) Fred Seneviratne 

“People-to-people contact through religious tourism will be a great channel for cultural communication,” Khichi said, according to an official statement, adding that reputable tour operators from both countries would be engaged to arrange special religious and cultural tours.

According to an Arab News report, both sides also agreed to organize joint cultural exhibitions, art showcases and heritage programs to create platforms for artists, craftsmen and cultural institutions from Pakistan and Sri Lanka to present their work to wider audiences.

During the meeting, the Sri Lankan envoy was briefed on Pakistan’s virtual tours of major Buddhist heritage sites, which allow global visitors to explore the country’s ancient cultural legacy online. Seneviratne expressed particular interest in the architectural and cultural artifacts preserved in Pakistani museums, especially those in Taxila and Lahore.

The growing cultural engagement builds on previous exchanges. In 2021, a 14-member delegation of Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka, led by Dr. Walpola Piyananda, undertook a week-long pilgrimage to Buddhist holy sites in Pakistan, describing the country as home to one of the most remarkable Buddhist civilizations of the ancient world.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka maintain long-standing bilateral relations, cooperating across various sectors. In December last year, Pakistan also extended relief aid and deployed rescue workers to assist Sri Lanka following devastating floods across the island nation, underscoring the depth of ties between the two countries.

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