JENJAROM, Nov 26 (Sin Chew Daily) — Led by High Commissioner Amna Baloch, the High Commission of Pakistan in Malaysia visited Dong Zen Temple on November 24.

The delegation was received by Ven Jue Cheng, the Chief Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Malaysia.

An interfaith dialogue was held during their visit.

Both parties agreed that such dialogue would help shape a peaceful and harmonious society.

Pakistan is an Islamic country with 95% of its population being Muslims. Nevertheless, Buddhism has existed in Pakistan for a long time.

Gandhara, the ancient name of a region in northwestern Pakistan, was one of the oldest civilizations where ancient Buddhist relics were found.

Baloch invited Fo Guang Shan to attend the international convention on Buddhism to be held in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad next March.

She also welcomed the Young Buddhist Association Of Malaysia to attend the convention organized by the Silk Road Center and Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations, Quaid-i-Azam University.

The convention will feature researches on Buddhism, Buddhist heritage exhibition and visits to sacred Buddhist sites to promote the understanding and value of Pakistan’s Buddhist heritage to connect Pakistan with the world.

“The sacred Buddhist sites are located inside Pakistan and the government is preserving Buddhist heritage in Pakistan,” she said.

Ven Jue Cheng said she hope Buddhist devotees of Fo Guang Shan in Singapore, Thailand, the United States, Taiwan as well as Buddhism scholars worldwide would attend the convention and visit the sacred sites.

Baloch said she wanted to maintain ties with the temple after her visit to initiate more interfaith dialogues in future.

The visit was arranged by the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia.