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.