پاکستان میں مذہبی سیاحت: معاشی امکانات اور عالمی تعلقات

Religious Tourism in Pakistan: Economic Potential and Global Relations

Abstract

This article analyzes the concept, scope, and significance of religious tourism in Pakistan by examining its linguistic and conceptual foundations in Arabic, Qur’ānic usage, and English terminology, alongside historical and contemporary perspectives. It highlights Pakistan’s rich religious and cultural diversity, encompassing sacred sites of Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Hinduism, and Christianity, and assesses the current state of tourism with a focus on religious tourism as a key sector. The study identifies major challenges such as infrastructure, governance, security, and policy gaps, while emphasizing the economic, social, and diplomatic potential of religious tourism in terms of employment, foreign exchange, interfaith harmony, and global image-building. It concludes that strategic planning and sustainable development of religious tourism can significantly contribute to Pakistan’s socio-economic growth and international standing.