Varied and many, churches reflect Pakistan’s diverse cultural spectrum
Book captures in pictures the sacred structures preserved over time.
ISLAMABAD:
To highlight the diversity of Pakistani culture and the role of religious minorities in its development, a book was launched at Kuch Khaas on Thursday.
Author of the book, Dr Safdar Ali Shah, explained the significance of each church and gave its historical background.
“It was not by coincidence that the Christian community decided to join Pakistan, they campaigned for a separate country along with the Muslims when the resolution was moved,” said Shah.
It took Shah and his photographer Syed Javaid Kazi a year to travel all over the country to take pictures, compile and publish the book. Shah said it was fascinating to see the architecture and design of each church. “Christianity in this part of the world is as old as Christianity in Europe,” he added.
Some churches are a testament to their foreign builders, with typical European gothic design and stained glass specially imported for their construction. However, Shah elaborated that as the religion grew in Pakistan, the locals started building churches with materials available in their areas. He cited an example of a church in Multan that was made with local marble and tiles produced in that area. The church looks like a Sufi shrine. Similarly, churches in Nathiagali are made of wood.
Shah said that there is an effort to put some of the churches on the list of heritage sites. Some buildings when visited were very well preserved, while others, due to lack of funding, were not so well kept.
“Many buildings are very old and so huge that they cannot be maintained. Maintenance is an issue with some but not all. Majority are very well kept,” said Shah.
While speaking to The Express Tribune about the riots between locals and Christians, Shah said that this book aims to show the international community of how these places of worship is so well kept and well preserved in Pakistan.
He said most of the issues or riots between religious groups are at a local level and are usually blown out of proportion. “People usually make religion an excuse to fight,” said Shah. There are many new churches being built in Quetta, he added.
The 116-page book consists of about 300 pictures of different churches across Pakistan. The event was organised in collaboration with Asian Study Group.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2012.
To highlight the diversity of Pakistani culture and the role of religious minorities in its development, a book was launched at Kuch Khaas on Thursday.
Author of the book, Dr Safdar Ali Shah, explained the significance of each church and gave its historical background.
“It was not by coincidence that the Christian community decided to join Pakistan, they campaigned for a separate country along with the Muslims when the resolution was moved,” said Shah.
It took Shah and his photographer Syed Javaid Kazi a year to travel all over the country to take pictures, compile and publish the book. Shah said it was fascinating to see the architecture and design of each church. “Christianity in this part of the world is as old as Christianity in Europe,” he added.
Some churches are a testament to their foreign builders, with typical European gothic design and stained glass specially imported for their construction. However, Shah elaborated that as the religion grew in Pakistan, the locals started building churches with materials available in their areas. He cited an example of a church in Multan that was made with local marble and tiles produced in that area. The church looks like a Sufi shrine. Similarly, churches in Nathiagali are made of wood.
Shah said that there is an effort to put some of the churches on the list of heritage sites. Some buildings when visited were very well preserved, while others, due to lack of funding, were not so well kept.
“Many buildings are very old and so huge that they cannot be maintained. Maintenance is an issue with some but not all. Majority are very well kept,” said Shah.
While speaking to The Express Tribune about the riots between locals and Christians, Shah said that this book aims to show the international community of how these places of worship is so well kept and well preserved in Pakistan.
He said most of the issues or riots between religious groups are at a local level and are usually blown out of proportion. “People usually make religion an excuse to fight,” said Shah. There are many new churches being built in Quetta, he added.
The 116-page book consists of about 300 pictures of different churches across Pakistan. The event was organised in collaboration with Asian Study Group.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2012.