ISLAMABAD (DNA) -Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi received the delegation of the Most Venerable Wonhaeng, President of Jogye Order, the biggest denomination of Buddhism in the Republic of Korea, on Wednesday.

Welcoming the visit of the Most Venerable Wonhaeng the Foreign Minister stated that the visit would help promote people to people contacts and cultural exchanges between the two countries. He emphasized collaboration in conservation and promotion of historical Buddhist sites of Pakistan. He underscored that Pakistan is proud of its Buddhist heritage which has been carefully preserved as the shared heritage of mankind.

The Foreign Minister briefed the delegation on Pakistan’s initiative of opening Kartarpur Sahib Corridor. He underscored that Pakistan has taken this step to meet the longstanding request of Sikh community across the world, particularly from India, which is in line with Islamic principles.

The Foreign Minister highlighted the Government’s policy of promoting religious tourism including Buddhist tourism in Pakistan which was in consonance with the Islam message of peace, harmony and understanding among all religions.

The Most Venerable Wonhaeng highlighted the Republic of Korea’s cultural and religious linkages with Pakistan which go back to the Buddhist Gandhara civilization. He also expressed the desire to establish a Buddhist Cultural and Korean Language Centre in Pakistan.

The delegation is on an eight day visit from 16 to 24 November 2019. Earlier, they also visited Lahore and Gilgit-Baltistan. The delegation will also call on President, Prime Minister and Minister of Religious Affairs today. They will continue their journey to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and visit historic sites in Taxila, Swat, Mardan and Peshawar before leaving back for South Korea on 24^th November 2019.=DNA