Pakistan unveiled the remains of a 1,700-year-old sleeping Buddha as part of an initiative to encourage tourism and project religious harmony in the region.

A reflection of the diverse history and culture of the South Asian country, the ancient Buddhist site in Bhamala province was first discovered in 1929. Eighty eight years on, excavations resumed and the 14-metre-high Kanjur stone Buddha statue was unearthed.

Abdul Samad, the director of Bhamla’s archaeology and museums department said, “This is from the 3rd Century AD, making it the world’s oldest sleeping Buddha remains.”

He also said that the department has discovered over 500 Buddha objects along with this 48-foot-long sleeping Buddha remains.

The region was once the centre of Buddhist civilisation that took root under the Mauryan king Ashoka 2,300 years ago. A general view of main stupa, was seen after it was discovered and unveiled to the public, during a ceremony at the Buddhist-period archaeological site near Haripur, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.