New York 23 May 2025(Ghufran): The Consulate General of Pakistan in New York and the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations, in collaboration with the Office of the Manhattan District Attorney, successfully hosted a landmark cultural exhibition titled “Whispers from Gandhara – Showcase of Gandhara Civilization and Buddhist Heritage of Pakistan” on May 22, 2025.
The event drew a distinguished gathering of Permanent Representatives to the United Nations, Consuls General, senior U.S. officials including representatives from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Office of the Mayor New York, U.S. businessmen and members of the Pakistani community.
The exhibition featured 39 rare artifacts from the Gandhara and Indus Valley civilizations—recovered and repatriated to Pakistan through the extraordinary efforts of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Antiquities Trafficking Unit. These ancient objects, many dating back to the 3rd century BCE to the 4th century CE, included statues of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas, narrative reliefs, ceremonial vessels, and a mother goddess figurine—showcasing the spiritual depth and artistic excellence of Pakistan’s cultural past.
A special video message by the Foreign Secretary Ms. Amna Baloch highlighted Pakistan’s enduring commitment to the protection of cultural heritage and thanked U.S. authorities for their role in the artifacts’ recovery.
Consul General Aamer Ahmed Atozai, in his opening remarks, emphasized Pakistan’s rich civilizational legacy and the personal connection of the Gandhara region to his hometown of Nowshera, close to the renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site of Takht-i-Bahi.
A visually engaging documentary and a presentation further illustrated Gandhara’s evolution as a crossroads of civilizations and a crucible of Buddhist thought, influenced by Greek, Persian and Central Asian cultures.
Colonel Matthew Bogdanos, Chief of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit, delivered remarks on behalf of District Attorney Alvin Bragg, underlining the importance of cultural justice and cross-border collaboration. This was followed by the official signing ceremony for the formal handover of the artifacts to the Government of Pakistan.
In his closing remarks, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, called Gandhara “a living testament to the values of peace, tolerance, and dialogue,” and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to global cooperation in the preservation of shared human heritage.
The exhibition concluded with a viewing of the artifacts and a captivating Qawwali performance, leaving guests with a resonant impression of Pakistan’s artistic depth and civilizational continuity.