<p>Visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has proclaimed his Muslim-majority nation a choice destination for religious tourism by Sri Lankans, most of whom are Buddhists.</p>.<p>In talks with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday, Khan highlighted Buddhist heritage sites in Pakistan and stressed the building of cultural ties, the Pakistan Embassy said in a statement.</p>.<p>“Pakistan probably has one of the greatest Buddhist heritages in the world and we invite people from Sri Lanka to visit them,” Khan said a day earlier after meeting with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.</p>.<p>Khan is making a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka which began Tuesday.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/pakistan-india-can-resolve-kashmir-issue-through-dialogue-imran-khan-says-in-lanka-954932.html" target="_blank">Pakistan, India can resolve Kashmir issue through dialogue: Imran Khan says in Lanka</a></strong></p>.<p>Buddhists account for more than 70% of Sri Lanka's 22 million people. Ethnic minority Tamils, who are mainly Hindu, comprise about 15% and 9% are Muslims.</p>.<p>Khan said northern Pakistan is the center of the ancient Buddhist Gandhara civilization and that a 40-foot (12-meter) sleeping Buddha statue was recently discovered there.</p>.<p>“We are planning a Buddhist trail ... with all the Buddhist great shrines and Buddhist places," he said.</p>.<p>Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is the older brother of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.</p>
<p>Visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has proclaimed his Muslim-majority nation a choice destination for religious tourism by Sri Lankans, most of whom are Buddhists.</p>.<p>In talks with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday, Khan highlighted Buddhist heritage sites in Pakistan and stressed the building of cultural ties, the Pakistan Embassy said in a statement.</p>.<p>“Pakistan probably has one of the greatest Buddhist heritages in the world and we invite people from Sri Lanka to visit them,” Khan said a day earlier after meeting with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.</p>.<p>Khan is making a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka which began Tuesday.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/pakistan-india-can-resolve-kashmir-issue-through-dialogue-imran-khan-says-in-lanka-954932.html" target="_blank">Pakistan, India can resolve Kashmir issue through dialogue: Imran Khan says in Lanka</a></strong></p>.<p>Buddhists account for more than 70% of Sri Lanka's 22 million people. Ethnic minority Tamils, who are mainly Hindu, comprise about 15% and 9% are Muslims.</p>.<p>Khan said northern Pakistan is the center of the ancient Buddhist Gandhara civilization and that a 40-foot (12-meter) sleeping Buddha statue was recently discovered there.</p>.<p>“We are planning a Buddhist trail ... with all the Buddhist great shrines and Buddhist places," he said.</p>.<p>Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is the older brother of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.</p>