Provincial govts advised to follow National Interfaith Harmony Policy.

KARACHI -- The provincial governments should pursue the National Interfaith Harmony Policy and efforts be made to deliver Paigham-e-Pakistan Narrative, for promotion of interfaith harmony across the country.

This was agreed unanimously and adopted in a joint declaration by the participants of the interfaith harmony conference on 'Mutual respect of religion - need of the hour' organised at a local hotel here on Thursday.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Pir Noor-ul-Haq Qadri was the chief guest and also host of the event. Parliamentary Secretary for Religious Affairs MNA Aftab Jahangir presented the unanimously agreed Joint Declaration. The participants had agreement that Paigham-e-Pakistan was an important National Narrative; therefore, it should be disseminated across the country. They declared that the provincial governments should also officially mark the holy festivals of minorities to further promote interfaith harmony. The participants suggested that respect be paid to all religious leaders and places of worship of the minorities. They said that all the differences should be settled through a process of serious dialogue and mutual understanding.

Compulsory training programmes should be arranged for the leaders of different beliefs to impart them basic information about various beliefs, they agreed. It was also decided that the leaders of different beliefs and scholars should pay visits to places of worship of other beliefs to further promote social, cultural, and interfaith harmony. Keeping in view the significance of the role of media, they agreed that print, electronic and social media should be encouraged to start campaigns regarding the promotion of interfaith harmony.

Later, addressing the event as chief guest, Federal...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT