Restoration of Buddha statue in Pakistan was initiated by a group of Italian archaeologists. After a nine-year-long wait iconic seventh-century defaced Buddha statue got a shape. The seventh-century Buddha seated in a meditative posture. It is considered one of the largest rock sculptures in South Asia. Taliban attacked in September 2007 in Swat, Pakistan. Who blew up half the statue’s face by drilling holes into the face and shoulders and inserting explosives. The explosives, when detonated, destroyed half its face, but the explosives in the statue’s shoulders failed to detonate. The defacement of the Buddha sparked worldwide anger and concern among the Buddhist community, historians and archaeologists.

The Italian Archaeological Mission was able to do the restoration of Buddha statue in Pakistan to its original form after six scientific missions. Dr Luca Maria Olivieri, an Italian archaeological said, “It was our professional and moral obligation toward the people and heritage of Swat and Pakistan which forced us to restore the Buddha,” International experts worked on the restoration process. It took about five missions of about a month each from 2012-2016 in its complete conservation program. Two restorers/trainers, two 3D scan experts/trainers, one chief restorer, five local restorers, 20 field workers, two carpenters, and three watch-keepers were involved in the restoration process, while the 3D equipment was provided all-inclusive by the University of Padua, Italy.”

It is one of the biggest rock sculptures in the region and different traces showed that it was once a central Buddhist location in the past. The surrounding of Buddha statue is peaceful, picturesque and serene. Tibetan pilgrims who visited Swat in the past mentioned about the Jahan Abad, Swat, Buddha along with a Buddhist temple are here. Italian Archaeological department took it seriously and made a plan for restoration of Buddha statue in Pakistan.

Dr Luca Maria Olivieri said that after the restoration of Buddha statue in Pakistan, once again, become a tourist spot as it was in the past. “I hope Buddhist visitors and other tourists will once again visit this place, not only to enjoy the area serenity but the rich cultural heritage of the region here,” he also said that the Buddha sculpture would play a vital role in the revival of International and national tourism.