By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: Senator Khalil Tahir Sandhu represented Pakistan as a keynote speaker at the international conference titled Religion and Human Flourishing: Building Pathways to Peaceful Societies in South Asia, organized under the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative at Brigham Young University–Hawaii.
The conference brought together political leaders from several countries, scholars, faith leaders and social activists from around the world to deliberate on promoting peaceful, inclusive and harmonious societies through dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect. The event served as an important global platform to discuss the role of religion in fostering human dignity, social cohesion and long-term peace in South Asia and beyond.
Senator Sandhu was accompanied by Shahid Rehmat, Executive Director of the Youth Development Foundation, who also participated as a speaker and contributed to discussions on youth engagement, peacebuilding and social inclusion. Their participation was seen as a reflection of Pakistan’s growing engagement in international dialogues focused on religious freedom and coexistence.
Delivering his keynote address, Senator Khalil Tahir Sandhu underscored Pakistan’s commitment to promoting regional peace, stability and interfaith harmony. He highlighted the importance of dialogue and tolerance in addressing contemporary challenges and emphasized that peaceful societies can only be built through mutual respect, justice and equal opportunities for all communities.
He appreciated the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif, Asim Munir and Ishaq Dar for their roles in supporting peace, national stability and diplomatic engagement. He said Pakistan continues to pursue constructive policies aimed at strengthening regional cooperation while advancing the principles of inclusivity and harmony at home.
During his address, the senator also shared details of measures being undertaken by the Government of Pakistan to improve conditions for religious minorities and ensure their protection. He emphasized ongoing initiatives focused on safeguarding minority rights, encouraging interfaith understanding and promoting equal rights for all citizens irrespective of religion or background.
He noted that Pakistan’s constitutional and social framework supports diversity and coexistence, and reiterated that practical efforts are underway to further strengthen protections for minority communities and create an environment where all citizens can contribute to national development.
Participants at the conference exchanged perspectives on how religion can serve as a force for peace rather than division, with discussions centered on tolerance, human dignity, social justice and collaborative approaches to addressing regional tensions.
Senator Sandhu’s participation was widely viewed as reinforcing Pakistan’s message of peace and its commitment to engaging in global efforts for religious freedom and human flourishing. His address highlighted the country’s desire to contribute positively to international discourse on building peaceful and inclusive societies.
The conference concluded with renewed calls for stronger international cooperation, interfaith dialogue and people-to-people engagement to advance peace and understanding across South Asia and the wider world.
