TAXILA: South Korea is keen to support Gandhara renaissance project in Taxila in northeast Pakistan aimed to revive the 2,500-year-old Buddhist University of Taxila with features of the 21st century.
This was stated by Choi In-Sun, the wife of Korean ambassador to Pakistan, after visiting the proposed site of the university here, reports said on Wednesday. She offered religious rituals at Dharmarajica, an ancient Buddhist stupa and monastery near the site.
Chief Monk of Korea Jeon Woon Deok, who visited Pakistan last year, has approved the site for the establishment of the institute. The government of Pakistan has agreed to provide land for the establishment of the university.
Earlier, founder of Gandhara Art and Culture Association Esther Park briefed the guest about the project.
Talking to newsmen, Sun said Taxila valley harboured one of the world’s best Buddhist sites and after establishment the institute would play a key role in reviving the oldest university and seat of learning.
She said the university would become a world research centre on Gandhara and interfaith harmony, which would not only invite scholars from across the world for study and research but would also promote tourism in Pakistan.
She said by establishing the institute, negative impact about Pakistan would be removed besides the area would become a tourist zone. She said the institute would also bridge the gap between Islam and other religions, especially Buddhism.
In response to a question, she said President Asif Ali Zardari, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Unesco, USAID and other international organisations were in touch with each other over the project. She hoped that with the assistance of Pakistan and support from the Korean public the project’s groundbreaking ceremony would be held in November.
She said the Korean embassy also planned a ‘peace karvan’ in Taxila in 2011 in which monks would perform prayers for peace in the world.
Esther Park said the aim of the establishment of the Buddhist centre of learning and research was to revive the ancient university of Taxila with the same features but with modern facilities.
Responding a question, she said the project had been initiated on the proposal of Korean chief monk who is also the chairman of his country’s Gandhara Arts and Culture Association.
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