Washington: Pakistan Embassy Hosts Interfaith Iftar Dinner

F.P. Report

WASHINGTON: To share the blessings of Ramadan and promote interfaith harmony and mutual understanding, the Embassy of Pakistan hosted an Interfaith Iftar Dinner, today.

In their remarks, eminent scholars representing Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism emphasized the importance of interfaith harmony, peace and tolerance.

The leaders of faith prayed in their respective languages. All the prayers emphasized on world peace and highlighted the commonalities in their religions and stressed upon that all faiths serve to foster harmony, peace and humanity in the world. These leaders included Dr. SovanTun, Father Don Rooney, Dr. Alok Srivastava, Rabbi Aaron Miller, Dr. Zulfiqar Kazmi and Satpal Singh Kang.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Asad M. Khan underlined that Pakistan is a multi-religious, multi-cultural and a pluralistic society where people of different religious backgrounds are living together for decades.Pakistan is home to sacred places of world’s major religions including Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism, he added.

Ambassador Khan also gave an overview of the recent steps taken by the Government to promote religious harmony including preservation of religious heritage sites and opening of Kartarpur corridor. He said that recently announced revision of visa policy will help tremendously in promoting religious tourism in the country. Pakistan prides itself in its culture of interfaith harmony and coexistence, he added.

A large number of people from various faiths attended the event. Also, among the participants were Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Ambassador of Turkey H.E. SerdarKilic, members of the diplomatic corps, U.S. Administration officials, academia, media, opinion makers and Pakistani-American community.