Peace linked to interfaith harmony

LAHORE

Provincial Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Khalil Tahir Sandhu has said that to create culture of peace and coexistence we need to show respect to other religions and reconcile all the conflicts dismantling the culture of war.

Social media is the most effective communication tool preferred by young generation to foster positive change in society.

He stated this while addressing a launching ceremony of a pilot project of an NGO, here Monday.

Deputy Ambassador of Netherlands Embassy in Pakistan Renate Pors, Shehzad Munshi MPA, Principal College Dr Rukhsana David, Javed William, Elaine Alam, religious scholars Allama Abdul Wahab Ropari, Mushtaq Hussain Jafri, Pir Muhammad Zubair Abid, Shakeel-ur-Rehman Nasir, Kalyan Singh from GCU, Dr Herman Roborgh, Prof Dilshad Rehmat from Islamia University Bahawalpur, Dr Syed Mubasher Ali from LUMS along with representatives from different religious faiths, international human rights activists Rafia Alam and Aron Kumar were present on this occasion.

Khalil Tahir Sandhu said social media had brought positive societal changes in the world empowering people to unite, fighting corruption and ills of society, including extremism and terrorism. 

He said that in present situation, the need of collective efforts and struggle for peace and security without any discrimination of cast and creed had increased. Our youth is a powerful force for change and their activism in on the rise, communicating ideas aimed at catalysing positivity in society, he added.

Deputy Ambassador of Netherlands Renate Pors said the government of the Netherlands had been supporting the initiatives of the Punjab government as well as local NGOs to create awareness among people of different religions regarding human rights cultivating inner peace. Javed William said that the NGO had been designed to promote religious harmony, tolerance and peace through social media.