“Religious harmony is the need of the hour. Everyone must play a collective role to promote it.” – Ramesh Singh Arora
By Our Correpondent
LAHORE: Provincial Minister for Minorities Affairs, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, emphasized that Pakistan today needs religious harmony, mutual tolerance, and unity more than ever. He underscored the importance of conveying the message that followers of all religions are equal citizens, and respecting their cultures, beliefs, and values is a collective societal responsibility.
He expressed these views while addressing a high-level consultative meeting held at the Human Rights Camp Office on Tuesday. The primary objective of the session was to develop a concrete strategy to promote interfaith harmony and social cohesion.
The meeting was attended by Secretary for Human Rights Farid Ahmad Tarar, civil society members, human rights representatives, religious scholars from various faiths, and prominent social figures.
Minister Arora highlighted the commitment of Chief Minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, to religious inclusion, referencing her participation in major religious events such as Diwali, Holi, Christmas, and the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He noted her symbolic statement calling minorities the “Crown of her head” as a demonstration of inclusive leadership.
He stated that Pakistan’s true identity is rooted in tolerance, love, and mutual respect, and called for the creation of a coordinated interfaith action plan to strengthen these core values.
Participants collectively agreed to celebrate Minorities Day on August 11 in an inclusive and impactful manner across Punjab, involving educational institutions, worship places, and community leaders from all backgrounds.
Representatives from Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Christian, and other communities advocated for broad-based inclusion of all schools of thought to foster a culture of tolerance, unity, and brotherhood.
Secretary for Human Rights Farid Ahmad Tarar reaffirmed his department’s commitment to protecting minority rights and promoting their equal status as citizens. He described interfaith harmony as a true reflection of Pakistan’s positive and pluralistic identity.
Javed William, Head of Faces Pakistan, pledged support for the government’s efforts and emphasized the importance of upholding mutual respect within the framework of the Constitution and rule of law.
Rev. Dr. Majid Abel stressed the importance of promoting interfaith initiatives in schools, media, religious institutions, and community spaces to nurture a culture of harmony and constructive dialogue.
The meeting concluded with a unanimous pledge from participants to continue joint and sincere efforts to foster religious harmony, national cohesion, and unity. A special prayer for Pakistan’s peace, prosperity, and global harmony was led by Mufti Ashiq Hussain.
Mufti Ashiq Hussain, Prof. Dr. Masood Mujahid, Allama Dr. Badr Munir Mujaddidi, Amarnath Randhawa, Syed Mudasar Hussain Shah, Syed Mahmood Ghaznavi, Muhammad Yousaf (Director Human Rights), Noor-us-Saba (SPURT), among other distinguished figures.
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