IMC to protect Buddhist relics

Mayor marches with Nepal envoy to mark Buddha’s birth

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Municipal Corporation (IMC) will utilise all available resources to preserve Buddhist holy sites in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), said Mayor Anser Aziz ion Monday.

“Peace, love and tolerance are hallmarks of the teaching of Gautam Buddha. These values of Buddhism are appreciated across the globe,” Aziz said leading a march at F-9 Park to commemorate the birth of Sidharta Gautama who went on to become the founder of Buddhism.

The peace walk was organised by the embassy of Nepal, the region where Buddha was born and spent his youth around 2,500 years ago.

The Peace Walk was led by Mayor Aziz and Nepalese Ambasador Sewa Lamsaal Adhikari. Ambassadors of several other countries, delegates and people from the civil society attended the walk.

Mayor said that the teachings of the Buddha are centred on peace and nonviolence. He said that Nepal hold special space in the political as well as cultural landscape of Pakistan. Many historical sites of Buddha are present in the country, which was why people of Nepal had a special link with Pakistan.

Aziz said Pakistan and Nepal share history of mutual respect, affection and support for each other. “We are determined to capitalise on the legacy of shared cultural heritage and to develop our country as the hub for the Buddhist religious tourism,” he said.

IMC has taken concrete steps for the preservation of ancient caves of Buddha located at Shah Allah Ditta.

Ambassador of the Nepal informed that the day of the full moon in the month of Baishakh has been special occasion in Nepal being the birth day Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha. The people of Nepal cherish Buddha’s teachings of peace and nonviolence at part of their culture in everyday life, she said. The Embassy of Nepal in collaboration of IMC organised Peace Walk – 2018 to express solidarity for continue peace, progress and prosperity.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 1^st, 2018.