Senior PMLN leader and former Chief Minister of Punjab Hamza Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated the Shah Allah Ditta Buddha Caves Preservation Project in Islamabad on Wednesday. The project was presented as a step towards preserving and promoting Pakistan’s Buddhist heritage and its shared cultural history.
The ceremony took place on November 4, 2026. Sharif appeared at the site alongside government officials, diplomats and other guests, and the event focused on the historical value of the caves and the work carried out to protect them.
Sharif tours caves after project briefing
After the inauguration, Sharif visited the caves. Asad Rehman Gillani, Secretary of the National Heritage and Culture Division, briefed him on the completed preservation work, its main features and its overall cost.
Officials said the caves bear witness to the presence and religious practices of Buddhist communities in the region. A documentary on the site’s historical background and archaeological importance was screened during the opening ceremony, highlighting its links to Buddhist worship and the area’s cultural legacy.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sharif thanked the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture for its efforts to preserve and restore the site. He described the location as beautiful, surrounded by lush green trees and mountains, and praised the initiative for safeguarding part of the country’s shared heritage.
Call for better road access and tourism growth
Sharif stressed that Islam teaches respect for other religions, the protection of minorities’ rights and the safeguarding of their places of worship. He said the project would present a positive and soft image of Pakistan abroad and turn the site into an attractive destination for visitors.
He also called for improved road connectivity to the caves. He asked Federal Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi to take up the matter with the relevant authorities and pursue a better and more direct access road. He said such a road would help visitors, promote local tourism and create jobs and economic opportunities for nearby communities.
Sharif noted the growing commercial activity in the area and said residents deserved recreational spaces where families could spend quality time. He also invited diplomats and visitors, particularly from Buddhist countries, to visit the site with their families. He expressed hope that it would become a symbol of mutual respect, religious harmony and shared heritage.
Government pledges to protect Buddhist heritage sites
Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi thanked Sharif for inaugurating the project. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting Pakistan’s historic Buddhist heritage.
Khichi urged the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) and the media to raise awareness of the caves’ historical and religious significance. He asked them to promote the site among domestic and international visitors, especially from Buddhist countries.
Reassuring the diplomats present, Khichi said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the government was committed to preserving all Buddhist heritage sites across Pakistan. He said such initiatives would strengthen cultural diplomacy, promote interfaith harmony and enhance the country’s image abroad.
Federal Minister Rana Mubashar, National Assembly member Anjam Aqeel Khan, former Deputy Mayor of Islamabad Syed Zeeshan Shah, SAPMs Aon Chaudhary and Talha Barki, senior officials and diplomats from Buddhist countries attended the ceremony. At its close, Syed Zeeshan Shah presented a souvenir to Sharif as a gesture of appreciation.
