ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The National History and Literary Heritage Division Tuesday inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Inter Art Channel of Republic of Korea to organize an exhibition of Gandhara artifacts and sculptures from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The exhibition would not only bring the rich Buddhist archaeological treasure of Pakistan to Republic of Korea but also help attract religious tourists to Pakistan, according to a press release of the Pakistan embassy in Seoul.
The exhibition starting from March next year, would be held in two cities of Republic of Korea for six months.
The MoU would help strengthen existing excellent ties between Pakistan and Republic of Korea through expanded cultural cooperation.
The Memorandum was signed by Secretary National History and Literary Heritage Division Mohsin S. Haqqani and President of the Inter Art Channel Yangsoo Kim.
The core of the Gandhara civilization was located around the city of Peshawar in North-West Pakistan which was not only the centre of spiritual influence but also cradle of the world famous Gandhara culture, art and learning.
This ancient source of the region’s culture has created an empathy between Pakistan and other countries of Central, South and East Asia which needs to be strengthened.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as part of its Public Diplomacy initiatives at promoting Pakistani culture and heritage abroad, has undertaken efforts to organize a series of Ancient Pakistan Exhibitions.
Director General (Policy Planning and Public Diplomacy) Rahim Hayat Qureshi and Director General (EAP) Javed Jalil Khattak, from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Joint Secretary (Heritage) Mashood Ahmad Mirza, Director (Archeology and Museum Department) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Dr. Abdul Samad and Secretary of Gandhara Art & Culture Association Islamabad Dr. Esther Park were also present during the event.
