The members of the delegation include Han Sang Beon, MS Sim Gab Shik, Lim Lim Yeon, Lee Sung Hee, Lee Sung Hee, Sung in Sook, Kwak Eun Hi and IM Eun Ju.

The religious ceremony was held at Buddhist monastic complex at Takht Bhai’s hilltop location, established in early 1st century BC, which is enlisted in UNESCO world heritage sites in Pakistan.

The delegation later came to Abdul Wali Khan University (AWKU) Mardan and met with its vice-chancellor and other officials.Earlier, the officials of Directorate of Archaeology and Museums Khyber Pakhtunkhwa briefed the visiting Buddhist monks. They were also scheduled to visit Swat.

“Every year, monks from different countries arrive in Pakistan, particularly the Gandhara region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and visit Buddhist relics, where the monks performed religious ritual, said Director Archaeology and Museums Dr Abdul Samad.

He said the monks usually visit archaeological sites, Julian, (Taxila region), Takht Bhai, Jamal Garhi in Mardan and Butkhara in Swat. The director said the visit would help promote religious and archaeological tourism besides promoting a soft image of terrorism-hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said the directorate has outlined a plan for promotion of archaeological and religious tourism to highlight the soft image of the province.“The region is politically, culturally and religiously very rich. We always think about the Buddhist’s archaeological remains, especially in this part of the world, said Han Sang Beon, a member of the delegation.

“It was a heart-touching when I first visited the stupas and statues,” told another, monk. He said they offered special prayers at ancient sites and prayed for the stability, religious harmony in Pakistan.

They usually offer special prayers on the first and 15th of the month. The monks said they also pray to revive those times when the Buddhism was flourishing and there was peace and stability all around the world.

Sang Beon said Pakistan was their second home. He dispelled the negative perceptions about this region, particularly regarding safety and security by saying “Pakistani people are loving, very peaceful and friendly.”

The monks also offered prayers and held ritual ceremony at the Peshawar Museum on Wednesday and took keen interest in archaeological relics displayed there. Peshawar Museum in-charge Bakht Mohammad briefed the delegation about the museum and historical importance of Peshawar valley.

He said there were 50,000 Ghandharian sculpture in the museum dating back from the 1st century AD to 7th century AD.Bakht Mohammad said Gandhara, Greco-Buddhist, Kushan, Parthian, and Indo-Scythian life, had been preserved in the museum that included, art, sculptures, coins, manuscripts, statues, ancient books, early versions of the Holy Quran, weapons, dresses, jewellery, Kalash effigies, inscriptions, paintings of the Mughal and later periods, household materials and pottery, as well as local and Persian handicrafts.

 Commenting on the visit of the monks from South Korea, Advisor to Chief Minister on Archaeology and Tourism Amjad Afridi said the government was taking steps to promote religious tourism and protect and preserve the archaeological sites across the province.He said the visit of the monks would help promote the soft image of this region and archaeological and religious tourism. -The News PK.