HASANABDAL (MNN); World Bank President Ajay Pal Singh Banga on Sunday visited the Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Hasanabdal and an important archaeological site in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to official statements.
The World Bank chief, accompanied by his spouse and senior officials, visited the Julian Buddhist archaeological site near Khanpur in KP. Adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister on finance, Muzzammil Aslam, and MNA Faisal Amin Gandapur welcomed him on the occasion, while Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb also joined the visit along with his spouse.
During the visit, Muzzammil Aslam presented a commemorative shield to President Banga and held discussions with him on the economic affairs and development priorities of the province.
KP Director General of Archaeology Abdul Samad briefed the World Bank president in detail about the province’s rich archaeological heritage, with special focus on the Julian Buddha site. Ajay Banga appreciated the management and facilities at the site, praised the efforts of the archaeology department and assured full support for the preservation of KP’s cultural and historical heritage.
He was also invited to visit other archaeological sites and historical landmarks across the province.
Earlier, Ajay Banga visited Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Hasanabdal, where he offered special prayers and partook in the langar. He was accompanied by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora.
Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora said that the visit of the World Bank president to the gurdwara would send a positive message to the world. He added that followers of all religions enjoyed complete religious freedom in Pakistan.
He further said that on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, work was under way to renovate and beautify historical places of worship, adding that the Punjab government was also taking concrete steps to promote religious tourism.
