Pakistan embassy in US hosts interfaith iftar

Ambassador Khan gave overview of recent steps taken by the Pakistani government to promote religious harmony

The Embassy of Pakistan in the United States hosted an iftar on Thursday to promote interfaith harmony and mutual understanding, stated a press release by the embassy.

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

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Asad 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.

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Ambassador Khan also gave an overview of the recent steps taken by the Pakistani government to promote religious harmony including preservation of religious heritage sites and opening of Kartarpur corridor.

He added that the 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.

Among the participants were Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Ambassador of Turkey Serdar Kilic, members of the diplomatic corps, US administration officials, academia, media, opinion makers and members of the Pakistani-American community.

The leaders of faith prayed in their respective languages and all the prayers emphasised world peace and highlighted commonalities in their religions and stressed upon that all faiths serve to foster harmony, peace and humanity in the world.

These leaders included Dr Sovan Tun, Father Don Rooney, Dr Alok Srivastava, Rabbi Aaron Miller, Dr Zulfiqar Kazmi and Satpal Singh Kang.