ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has gifted a replica of the Fasting Buddha sculpture to Thailand, according to a foreign office statement circulated on Saturday, calling it a symbol of enduring diplomatic and cultural ties between the two nations.Pakistan is home to the Gandhara Civilization, which flourished as a major center of Buddhist learning and artistic expression from the 1st century BCE to the 7th century CE. The region’s ancient city of Taxila, located on the peripheries of the country’s present-day capital, Islamabad, remains a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In recent years, Pakistan has sought to boost religious tourism by hosting Buddhist monks and pilgrims from Thailand and other Asian countries.
The replica was handed over by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Thailand, Rukhsana Afzaal, to Phanomboot Chantrachoti, Director General of Thailand’s Fine Arts Department, during a ceremony held at the National Museum in Bangkok.
“Ambassador Afzaal highlighted the replica, crafted by Pakistani artist Jamil Kakar, as a testament to Pakistan’s Gandhara legacy, centered in ancient Taxila, and its role in Buddhist civilization,” the foreign office said. “She underscored its significance in strengthening Pakistan-Thailand friendship and promoting cultural exchanges under Pakistan’s long-standing ASEAN partnership.”
