A Pakistani tourism minister traveled to Korea last week to join Buddha’s Birthday celebrations.

Syed Aqil Shah, Minister for Tourism, Sports, Archeology and Youth Affairs of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (KPK) came with a nine member delegation from May 27-30. 

The minister was invited to a Buddha’s Birthday celebration on May 28 at Gwanmunsa in Seoul, a temple belonging to the Buddhist Chentae Order, before visiting Gyeongju in North Gyeongsang Province.

“It is the first time since Buddhism disappeared in Gandhara, around 1,500 years ago that a delegation is coming here form Pakistan to see how much Buddhism is flourishing here now, which was in fact influenced by Gandhara ― now Pakistan,” said Pakistani Ambassador to Seoul, Shaukat Ali Mukadam.

He explained that although Pakistan is a Muslim nation, Buddhism had some deep roots in the KPK region.

The area that was once Gandhara is the birthplace of Mahayana Buddhism.

The monk Maranatha from that area went on to spread Buddhism in the Baekje kingdom of A.D. 384.

Now, the KPK government has decided to restore all Gandhara holy sites and monuments.

“They are willing to restore Gandhara temples and develop infrastructure on the model of Korea,” Pakistani Ambassador to Korea Shaukat Ali Mukadam said.

“Pakistan is an Islamic country and they have a great respect for Buddhism but unfortunately people and media outside of Pakistan have been spreading negative information about Pakistan and Islam when in fact the reality is quite the opposite.”