A three-day symposium on the theme of revival of Gandhara civilization and Buddhist heritage in Pakistan is ongoing in Islamabad, in which more than 30 Buddhist leaders and monks from China, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, South Korea and other countries are participating. .
More than 30 Buddhist leaders and monks from China, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, South Korea and other countries are participating in the ongoing three-day symposium on Gandhara civilization and Buddhist heritage in Islamabad.
A three-day symposium on the theme of restoration of Gandhara civilization and Buddhist heritage in Pakistan under cultural diplomacy is ongoing in Islamabad, with the aim of bringing Buddhists from different countries of the world to their thousands of years old civilization in Pakistan. To provide an opportunity to visit.
More than 30 Buddhist leaders and monks from China, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, South Korea and other countries are participating in this symposium.
In his inaugural address, President of Pakistan Arif Alvi said that ‘Gandhara civilization is of great importance to the Pakistani nation, which represents a powerful dimension of our magnificent cultural heritage.’
Director General of Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad and former Foreign Secretary Sohail Mehmood told Independent Urdu that the symposium was organized by PM Task Force in collaboration with Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad and Directorate of Archeology and Museum, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. has been done
He said: ‘The purpose of this conference is to give awareness of Gandhara culture. The region in which Pakistan is located has thousands of years of culture. This culture has been preserved in the areas of Taxila and Takht Bai.
He further informed that Buddhist religious scholars and leaders are also being made to visit Gandhara culture sites in Taxila and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Dr. Yan Seng, a Buddhist religious scholar from Cambodia, told the Independent that he had come to Pakistan for the first time and was very happy to be a part of this conference.
He said: ‘Gandhara culture is of great importance to the Buddhist community as all Buddhists know the name of Taxila and Gandhara. There was always a question as to how Gandhara could be visited. I am grateful to the Government of Pakistan, who have preserved this great cultural heritage. I was very emotional watching the documentary on Gandhara culture this morning.
Nepali Buddhist leader Veneral Vikshu said in a special interview that ‘I am from the place where the Buddha was born. I am very excited to come to Pakistan.
He added: “We have to end the fear of Buddhists coming to Pakistan and this fear will end when they can come to Pakistan freely and peacefully.”
Director of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Archeology Museum Dr. Abdul Samad told Independent Urdu that “There are holy places of seven religions in Pakistan, so now this series of religious tourism has been started.”
“More than 30 Buddhist leaders and preceptors have been brought to Pakistan to go back after seeing their cultural heritage and tell their followers that Pakistan is a safe country and their heritage is kept safe there.”
There are 40 sites of thousands of years old Gandhara civilization in Pakistan, out of which 19 sites are in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 10 in Punjab, five in Sindh, one in Balochistan, four in Gilgit and one in Islamabad.
