Meeting of Buddhist Delegation with Minister of State

(2012-06-13)

Minister of State (MOS) for Foreign Affairs Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan received a 12-member delegation of Buddhist Monks from Bhutan who are on a week long visit to Pakistan.

The Delegation is being led by His Eminence Lopen Kunzang Wangdi, Chief Monk of the Central Monastic Body of Bhutan. H.E. Dasho Bap Kesang Ambassador of Bhutan to Pakistan, resident in Dhaka, and his Spouse are also part of the delegation.

Minister of State expressed his satisfaction over the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Bhutan and highlighted the historical links that date back centuries. He fondly recalled the meeting between our Prime Minister with HE Mr. Jigmi Y Thinley, Prime Minister of Bhutan when the latter visited Islamabad in March 2011.

MoS emphasized the need to further deepen people-to-people contacts adding that to promote interfaith harmony, such visit would be welcomed by Pakistan in the future as well. To mark the occasion, the MoS presented a real-sized replica of “Fasting Buddha” to the visitors.

The delegation will be visiting different sites of spiritual & religious significance for Buddhism in Mardan and Swat. The delegation will also visit Taxila and Lahore Museums, home to historical origins of Buddhism.

His Eminence Lopen Kunzang Wangdi thanked the Government of Pakistan for the hospitality extended to the delegation and praised the warmth they received from the people of Pakistan. He expressed his admiration for Pakistan to have preserved the historical Buddhist sites and for promoting visit of this nature from abroad.

Islamabad
June 13, 2012

0137/2012