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Draft:International Buddhist Centre Islamabad

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  • Comment: Please add sources as there is none under History. Please add reliable sources. RangersRus (talk) 00:54, 4 December 2024 (UTC)

The International Buddhist Temple and Cultural Centre in Islamabad, Pakistan was built in 1992 to serve the religious and cultural needs of the city’s Buddhist community. It is the first modern Buddhist temple built in Pakistan since its independence in 1947.

History

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International Buddhist Centre Islamabad 1992
International Buddhist Centre Islamabad 2024

A testament to the local Buddhist Community, the plan to build a Buddhist Temple was first initiated by local Chinese residents Mr William Lee (李国权1930-2013) & Mrs William Lee (陈宝云 1939- ). In the mid-1980s, the “Islamabad Buddhist Association” (IBA) was formed to realise this. Members of the IBA included local Buddhist and non-Buddhist residents, and diplomats from the Sri Lanka, Burma and Thailand Embassy. Led by its first president Mrs William Lee, the IBA aimed to provide the local Buddhist community a place of worship and celebrate religious festivities. Over several years the IBA worked to gather support, finally presenting their plans to the Islamabad Capital Development Authority (CDA) for consideration. Around 1990 a plot of land was granted to the IBA to build a Temple. This was located in the Islamabad Diplomatic Enclave (Sector G-5). Over the next year, the IBA started a fundraising campaign to build a Buddhist Cultural Centre. Foremost donors included the Sri Lanka government and many local Chinese and other residents, and businesses. Later the Sri Lankan government also donated the Buddha Statue and many other Temple pictures and prayer items. During this time building plans were drawn up and work commenced in 1991.

The “International Buddhist Centre Islamabad” was officially opened in 1992. Alongside the temple, the centre also houses a small library of Buddhist literature. Local Buddhists finally had a place to meet and carry out their worship. Unfortunately, in 2001 following the 9/11 terror attacks[1] and safety concerns, the Diplomatic Enclave became a red zone which was then limited only to foreign diplomats. Thus the Centre was no longer accessible to the public. Its care was then wholly taken over by the Sri Lanka Embassy and visits were limited only to those permitted (mostly foreign nationals) to enter the red zone.

International Buddhist Centre Islamabad: Re-Opening

Current Status

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Islamabad Buddhist Temple and Centre [2] is now only visited by those able to enter the Diplomatic Enclave. After renovations, it was re-inaugurated [3] on 23rd March 2018 by Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena. As the only functioning Buddhist Temple in Pakistan, it remains a significant venue where Diplomats from various Buddhist countries like, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Burma, Korea, Thailand and India can come together to celebrate the Buddhist calendar. Each year the festivals’ of Vesak are hosted [4][5][6] at the Temple.

References

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  1. ^ kamran.yousaf (2017-09-12). "How 9/11 changed Pakistan". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
  2. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
  3. ^ "Islamabad Buddhist Cultural Centre re-opened by President". www.news.lk. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
  4. ^ "Sri Lanka High Commission in Islamabad Celebrates 2600th Sri Sambuthdhatwa Jayanthi Religious Festival at the International Buddhist Center in Islamabad – Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Sri Lanka". Retrieved 2024-11-30.
  5. ^ "Celebrations of Vesak Festival in Islamabad – Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Sri Lanka". Retrieved 2024-11-30.
  6. ^ "Vesak Festival in Islamabad – Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Sri Lanka". Retrieved 2024-11-30.
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