World Bank President Ajay Pal Singh Banga visited the Gurudwara in Hasanabdal and an archeological site in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, according to official statements, which said that adviser to the KP CM also held discussions with him on the province’s economic affairs.
President Banga, accompanied by his spouse and senior officials, visited the Jaulian Buddhist archaeological site at Khanpur in KP, a handout said.
“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.
During the visit, Aslam presented a shield to the World Bank president and held discussions on the province’s economic affairs, it added.
For his part, KP Archaeology Director General Abdul Samad gave a detailed briefing to Banga on KP’s archaeological heritage, with special emphasis on the Jaulian Buddha site.
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, the handout said.
He was also invited to visit other archaeological sites and historical landmarks across KP, it added.
Earlier, a press release said Banga visited the Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Hasanabdal, where he offered special prayers and ate at the langar khana.
He was accompanied by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, the press release added.
It quoted Arora as saying that the arrival of the World Bank president at Gurdwara would send a “positive message”.
He said that followers of “all religions enjoy complete religious freedom in Pakistan”.
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 under way.
The Punjab government was also taking practical steps to promote religious tourism, he added.
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