The Humanistic Buddhism Research Centre at Quaid-i-Azam University and the Silk Road Centre in Islamabad have announced that the Third International Conference on the Buddhist Heritage of Pakistan will be held in Islamabad from 27–31 March 2026, alongside the Gandhara Culture and Tourism Festival. The conference will be held in collaboration with the Fo Guang Shan Education Centre, Pakistan Tourism Development Corp., Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Directorate General of Archaeology and Museums, Green Tourism and IDot Cool. Prospective presenters and participants are invited to submit their abstracts for review.
“The two-day conference will highlight multidisciplinary research on Buddhist heritage, while the accompanying festival will celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Gandhara through art exhibitions, music, dance and cuisines,” Silk Road Centre executive director Dr. Ijlal Hussain told BDG. “The main event in Islamabad will be followed by guided tours of Gandhara heritage sites and museums in Taxila, Peshawar, Mardan, and Swat. These activities are aimed at generating knowledge and positioning Gandhara in Pakistan as a research hub and a global destination for pilgrimage tourism, heritage preservation, and cultural diplomacy.”
The theme of the Third International Conference on the Buddhist Heritage of Pakistan is “Exploring the Buddhist Heritage of Pakistan through Multidisciplinary Research.” The forum will offer unique opportunities to learn from respected scholars and teachers through engaging dialogues, panel sessions with Q&As, and moderated discussions. The event will also offer flexible itineraries for field trips to key Buddhist heritage sites and museums in Mardan, Peshawar, Swat, and Taxila.
“This year’s conference is designed to engage a wide range of stakeholders, including scholars, faith leaders, conservation specialists, tour operators, youth and communities in knowledge development, conservation discourse, education, training, and community engagement dialogue to preserve and promote the Buddhist heritage of Pakistan dating to the third century BCE.”
Sub-themes to be explored at the symposium include: Buddhism in Gandhara and Its Transmission Beyond; The Gandhara Legacy—New Excavations, Discoveries and Interpretations; Conservation and Management of Buddhist Sites—Challenges and Opportunities; The Impact of Climate Change on Cultural Heritage; and The Use of Technology and Innovation in Buddhist Heritage Conservation’
“Authors are invited to send their abstracts for review by the Conference Academic Committee, comprising research scholars and academics.” the conference organizers stated. “The Academic Committee shall not accept full papers unless the submitted abstract has been reviewed and approved by the Committee. Authors whose abstracts are selected will be notified and requested to submit their full research papers within the specified timeframe. Contributors are requested to submit their abstracts on or before the closing date of 30 October 2025.”
Click here for full details and guidelines for abstract submissions
“Pakistan is a holy land for millions of Buddhist devotees around the world. It is the cradle of the famous Gandhara Buddhist art and iconography. It is the birthplace of renowned Buddhist philosophers and spiritual masters such as Asanga, Vasubandhu, Guru Rinpoche, and the monk Marananta,” the conference organizers affirmed. “Gandhara of Pakistan is home to the ancient and highly sacred Buddhist stupas and monasteries in Taxila Valley, Mardan, Swabi, Swat and many other parts of Pakistan. Buddhist manuscripts discovered in Gandhara dating to the second century CE are the oldest surviving collection of Buddhist texts in the world. As a holy land of Buddhism, Pakistan houses the Buddhist heritage of unmatched significance for devotees, scholars and students of Buddhism to explore.”
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