By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi
PESHAWAR/HAZARA: World Bank President Ajay Banga paid a high-profile visit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, accompanied by his spouse and a senior delegation, in a trip that combined development diplomacy with a focus on the province’s cultural heritage.
Ajay Banga was received by provincial officials, including the chief minister’s finance adviser, Muzammil Aslam, and MNA Faisal Amin Gandapur, while Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb later joined the delegation, underscoring the visit’s national importance. During the visit, Banga toured the Julian Buddha archaeological site in Khanpur district, one of the most significant remnants of the ancient Gandhara civilization.
Archaeologists briefed him on the site’s historical, religious and cultural value, describing it as a symbol of the region’s Buddhist past and a testament to the diverse civilizations that once flourished in what is now north-west Pakistan. Officials highlighted the site’s potential to attract international scholars and tourists if supported through preservation and infrastructure investment.
Adviser Muzammil Aslam presented a detailed overview of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s economic landscape, outlining ongoing development projects and future investment opportunities. He said the province had made progress through programs backed by international financial institutions and stressed its untapped potential in sectors such as tourism, minerals, renewable energy and archaeology.
These areas, he argued, could play a decisive role in driving sustainable economic growth and job creation. The director general of archaeology, Dr Abdul Samad, told the delegation that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa hosted a large number of heritage sites of global importance, many of which remained underexplored.
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