ISLAMABAD – Korean government has planned to arrange a pilot KoreanBuddhists pilgrim tour to the Buddhist sacred places in Gandhara, KhyberPakhtunkhwa, Pakistan by March or April this year.This was revealed by Ambassador of South Korea to Pakistan, Mr. KwakSung-Kyu while talking to APP. The ambassador himself is working on thearrangements for sending Buddhists to the sacred places in KhyberPakhtunkhwa.The ambassador said this initiative will help further strengthen thecultural ties between Pakistan and South Korea and help boost religioustourism in Pakistan.Mr. Kwak Sung-Kyu told this project will be followed by two other projectsincluding one project for capacity building of treating historicalartifacts and another programme of inviting the historical andarcheological officials and academia, preferably form the museums havingcollection of the Buddhist Art of Gandhara, to Korea soon.The ambassador said Pakistan and South Korea have been enjoying warmcultural relations which are deep rooted in history. Especially commonheritage of Buddhism is of particular importance for further cementingcultural and religious ties between the two countries.It is pertinent to mention here that the Korean Ambassador recently handedover state-of-the-art conservation equipments worth US$ 50,000 toDepartment of Archeology and Museums (DoAM), Islamabad in a ceremony fortreating and preserving the Pakistan’s moveable heritage.The conservation equipments will help preservation of the moveableantiquities especially specimen of the Buddhist art uncovered from thearcheological remains of Buddhist sanctuaries in the ancient Gandhararegion.The equipment included environmental control system for museum, devices forcleaning and conservation of antiquities including conservationconsumables, stereo-microscope, ultrasonic cleaner etc.The equipment will surely prove as instrumental in promoting country’scapacity to conserve its cultural heritage as per international level.The project has been administered jointly by the Cultural HeritageAdministration (CHA) of the Republic of Korea, Korea Cultural HeritageFoundation (KCHF) and the DoAM, Islamabad.
Pakistan – South Korea inches closer further
