ISLAMABAD: A two-day symposium on Gandhara civilization held this week in Islamabad, attended by Buddhist leaders from several countries, put the spotlight on Pakistan’s ancient cultural roots dating back to thousands of years. 

Although Pakistan does not have a significant Buddhist population, several parts of the country were historically important centers of Buddhism during the Gandhara period, from around the 1st century BCE to the 7th century CE.

The Pakistani government has sought to develop religious tourism in these areas, mainly concentrated in the present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern Punjab regions, and has regularly hosted Buddhist pilgrims and religious leaders in recent years.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday met a Buddhist delegation visiting Islamabad to attend a two-day symposium on Gandhara civilization. 

“The Prime Minister highlighted that Pakistan was proud of its ancient Buddhist heritage, which flourished in northwest Pakistan in the shape of Gandhara art and culture, over two thousand years ago,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.

The delegation comprised Sri Lanka’s Minister for Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wikramanayaka, Vietnamese Buddhist leader Duc Tuan, Thailand’s Anil Sakya and Dr. Keshabman Shakya from Nepal, a statement from Sharif’s office said. 

The PMO said Sharif underscored the importance his government attached to interfaith harmony, adding that the Pakistani premier acknowledged Buddhist scholars’ and monks’ valuable contributions to promoting interfaith harmony.

The delegation appreciated Sharif’s commitment to fostering “a culture of inclusivity and respect for all religions,” the PMO said. It added that the Buddhist leaders commended Pakistan’s efforts to preserve and promote its Buddhist heritage sites and cultural artifacts.

The two-day symposium and exhibition titled “From Gandhara to the World,” organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, kicked off on Tuesday. The event was organized in connection with the ‘Vesak Day,’ which commemorates Gautama Buddha’s birth and enlightenment.

Islamabad-based diplomats, government functionaries, scholars, artists and art lovers attended the symposium. 

Pakistan’s foreign office said foreign delegates, including ministerial-level participants from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam attended the symposium as well.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s education ministry has appointed prominent mountaineer Naila Kiani as its goodwill ambassador for girls education in the country, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Wednesday. 

Dubai-based Kiani is the first Pakistani woman and the third climber from the country to summit 11 of the 14 highest peaks in the world. She is also the first Pakistani woman to summit Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum I (G-I), Gasherbrum II (G-II), Lhotse, Manaslu, Broad Peak, Annapurna, Makalu, and Cho Oyu mountains. 

Pakistan’s government awarded Kiani the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, the highest civilian honor in the country, earlier this year for her notable achievements. It makes Kiani the only Pakistani woman to have received the award so far. 

“I am honored to be appointed as the National Goodwill Ambassador for Girls Education,” Kiani was quoted as saying by the APP. 

“Education is the only route to women’s empowerment and success for our country. I am committed to using my platform to support and advocate for educational initiatives that ensure every girl in Pakistan has access to quality education,” she added. 

As an ambassador, Kiani will work tirelessly to raise awareness about the importance of girls education, APP said. It said Kiani would also support and promote initiatives by the federal and provincial governments aimed at improving educational opportunities for girls.

Earlier this month, she became the first Pakistani woman to summit Mount Makalu in Nepal. The imposing mountain is the fifth-highest one in the world. It stands 8,485 meters (27,838 feet) high.