Around 60-member delegation of South Korean Buddhist pilgrims led by President of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism Ven Wonhaeng visited Pakistan from November 16 to November 23, 2019.
Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Kwak Sung Kyu hosted a dinner here at a local hotel to wrap up the delegation's pilgrimage. Ambassador Kwak showed his satisfaction over the existing warm cultural ties between South Korea and Pakistan and highlighted the importance of common heritage of Buddhism for further cementing cultural and religious ties between the two friendly countries.
While appreciating this large Buddhists pilgrimage to Pakistan despite security concerns, he described the tours "big important step toward enhancing cultural relations between two friendly countries."
Wonhaeng appreciated the hospitality extended to them by the government and people of Pakistan. He labelled Pakistan as home of ancient Buddhists heritage and tourist-friendly country. He also promised to deliver a good word back home about that. He underlined the need to improve the allied infrastructure and facilities at the heritage sites and to properly publicize Pakistan's rich cultural and historical treasures to the world. In this regard, the Korean Buddhists' delegation is willing to make contributions, so that Pakistan can become a priority tourism destination for Buddhists monks.
They visited Pakistan as part of Prime Minister Imran Khan's initiative to promote religious tourism as well as to further boost cultural inter-action between South Korea and Pakistan.
The delegation's pilgrimage covered historical sites and heritage located in Lahore, Gilgit, Hunza, Islamabad, Taxila, Peshawar, Takht-i-Bahi in Mardan and Chota Lahore in Swabi, etc. They offered prayers at Buddhists sacred sites for international peace and interfaith harmony.
The delegation received an overwhelming welcome from the federal and respective provincial governments. They called on president Dr Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Governor of Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar hosted a lunch and Governor of KP Shah Farman hosted a dinner for Buddhist pilgrims. Senior Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs, Tourism Culture, Archaeology and Museum Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Atif Khan arranged a welcoming ceremony at Peshawar Museum and hosted a lunch at his residence in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, for the delegation.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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