Large crowd turns up at Gandhara citrus festival

Islamabad:Ghandhara’s mesmerising heritage, culture, and connection with people through agriculture tourism was the hallmark of the second annual Gandhara Resource Centre Pakistan (GRCP) event arranged in Taxila.

This event attracted hundreds of participants belonging to twin cities Islamabad/Rawalpindi as well as local inhabitants of the ancient city – Taxila, who gathered along with their families and children to commemorate the second annual Gandhara Citrus Festival. This function was arranged at Mohra Moradhu, an archaeological site located in Taxila.

Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) Director at Tarnab Peshawar Dr. Riaz Alam highlighted the potential of sweet oranges in this part of the country and discussed different fungus impacted the plants of the citrus having a unique taste.

Dr. Waseem (Director Undergraduate University of Haripur) dwelt upon reasons for the reduced life span of citrus plants which hovered around 15 to 20 years against the life span of 100 years in many other parts of the world. He underscored the need for close collaboration among academia, researchers, and policymakers for undertaking the right kind of interventions to maximise productivity and variety of citrus in Pakistan.

The event was aimed at stimulating agricultural tourism by showcasing the distinct citrus offerings of the region while highlighting its rich Buddhist heritage. Firstly, it sought to promote a diverse range of oranges from Khanpur, fostering enduring connections between orange producers and exporters nationally and internationally. Secondly, it aimed to spotlight and exhibit the ancient stonework of the Gandhara civilisation, fostering connections between artisans and exporters.

The festival offered many activities, including live painting sessions, exhibitions, and promotions of locally harvested citrus fruits and homemade products. Additionally, it served as a platform to showcase the intricate stone carving art of the Gandhara civilisation, contributing to the advocacy and promotion of local heritage.

In a dedicated effort to promote environmental preservation and food security, the festival engaged the private sector, exporters, researchers, and academia to establish connections that support the preservation of the Gandhara-themed civilisation and stonework.

The vibrant marketplace at the festival boasted numerous food stalls, handicrafts, and agricultural product displays, attracting a considerable number of vendors. The speakers emphasised the significance of branding local farm products, underscoring its pivotal role in elevating the agricultural sector.

The occasion also gave rise to a distinctive opportunity of a live art corner featuring the renowned visual artists Pervaiz Khan, Munazza Javed, and Wajeeha Raja, who showcased their artistic talents with live paintings themed around Gandhara and citrus orchards. This engaging art activity captivated the interest of numerous young visitors, students, and enthusiasts of the arts.

The Gandhara Citrus Festival witnessed a diverse turnout, with active participation from thousands of women, children, and adults from Taxila, Haripur, Wah, Mansehra, Chakwal, Talagang, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad.

The organisers ensured widespread coverage by broadcasting the event live on social media platforms, contributing to the festival's broader reach and impact. Sara Mehmood, Team Leader GRCP said that there was a need for connectivity between heritage and agriculture tourism as there are 18 international heritage sites in Taxila which could turn into a tourism industry. She also asked for environmental management of heritage sites as well as agriculture productivity as climate degradation impacted both negatively.