June 19, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 14, 1429

ISLAMABAD, June 18: Chief Monk of Korean Buddhist Venerable Jeon Woon Deok has called for expediting efforts for establishment of peace around the world.

He said this during a reception hosted by Former Managing Director of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Salman Javed in his honour at Daman-i-Koh the other day, says a statement issued here on Wednesday.

The government and all foreign missions based in Pakistan should get together to help conserve and restore Gandhara sites, that are a great spiritual inheritance, to promote peace and harmony in the region and endorse their commitment to sanction religio-cultural tourism in the region, he added.

Authorities of Gandhara Art and Cultural Association and other prominent personalities were also present on the occasion.

The ancient and sacred sites of Takht Bahi, he added, are the greatest monuments in the world from religious point of view and if restored properly, will be of greater importance and attract a number of tourists from across the world.

While presenting the proposal of ‘Gandhara Renaissance’, the monk said Pakistan would be heading the list of countries involved in religio-cultural tourism as Gandhara was like Makkah for Mahayana Buddhism.