ISLAMABAD – A 12-member delegation of Buddhist Monks from Bhutan, who are on a week-long visit to Pakistan, Wednesday called on Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan. 
The delegation was led by Lopen Kunzang Wangdi, Chief Monk of the Central Monastic Body of Bhutan. Dasho Bap Kesang Ambassador of Bhutan to Pakistan, resident in Dhaka, and his spouse were also part of the delegation. Minister of State expressed his satisfaction over the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Bhutan and highlighted the historical links that date back centuries.  He recalled the meeting between Prime Minister Gilani with Jigmi Y Thinley, Prime Minister of Bhutan when the latter visited Islamabad in March 2011.
The Minister emphasized the need to further deepen people-to-people contacts, adding that to promote interfaith harmony, such visit would be welcomed by Pakistan in the future as well.
To mark the occasion, the minister presented a replica of “Fasting Buddha” to the visitors.
The delegation will be visiting different sites of spiritual and religious significance for Buddhism in Mardan and Swat. The delegation will also visit Taxila and Lahore museums, home to historical origins of Buddhism.
Lopen Kunzang Wangdi thanked the Government of Pakistan for the hospitality extended to the delegation and praised the warmth they received from the people of Pakistan.
He expressed his admiration for Pakistan to have preserved the historical Buddhist sites and for promoting visit of this nature from abroad.