PESHAWAR - A high-level delegation of monks from China, Japan and Korea led by Monk Hwa Ran, Monk Bubuil and former Army Chief of Korea, Gen. (R) Hee Do, visited Shangardar Stupa and Buth Kada, near Mingora in District Swat on Wednesday.
The delegation is currently visiting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the name “Gandhara Peace Tour”.
While performing their religious rituals, they prayed for peace in Pakistan and the whole world and evinced keen interest in the ancient remains of Buddhism in Buth Kada.
The leaders of the delegation while expressing their views said that they were really pleased to see the peaceful atmosphere in Pakistan and particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
On this occasion, besides others, Provincial Minister for Sports, Museums and Archeology, Syed Aqil Shah, and Provincial Secretary Syed Jamaluddin Shah and Director Prof. Dr. Shah Nazar Khan were also present.
The delegation was also taken to the historical place of Buddhism, But Kada where they expressed their pleasure on seeing the ruins of ancient remains.
On this occasion, Provincial Minister for Archaeology and Museums and Provincial Secretary of the Department, Syed Jamaluddin Shah, while talking to the media, said the tour of such a high-level delegation to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a point of satisfaction for us adding that the tour of the distinguished guests was an ample proof of the fact that the province is peaceful now.
They added that the provincial government was striving hard to ensure the preservation and promotion of the Gandhara culture so that religious tourism could be promoted and consequently the followers of Buddhism including investors can come and invest for the preservation and renovation of their historical places and archaeological sites.
The leaders of the delegation said that they wanted to give the world community the message that the religious scholars, tourists, investors and traders from all over the world could come to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa without any fear and risk.