Zubair Qureshi
British High Commissioner Jane Marriott hosted a ‘rare’ interfaith Iftar dinner for leading members of different religious communities across Pakistan to celebrate the country’s rich cultural diversity.
Federal Minister for Law, Justice and HR AzamNazeerTarar was the Chief Guest on the occasion.
The Iftar dinner organized at the British High Commission was attended by around 80 guests hailing from 12 faiths. They included heritage experts, human rights activists, members of civil society working to promote cultural and religious diversity in Pakistan.
All of them broke bread together and discussed issues surrounding tolerance, acceptance and inclusion amongst Pakistan’s multi-faith and multi-cultural groups. High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Pakistan, Admiral (R) Ravindra C Wijegunaratne, represented followers of the Buddhist faith at the Iftar, which has a rich history in Pakistan.
DrSaveeraPrakash, the first Hindu woman to contest elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the 2024 General Elections, delivered a speech describing her campaigning experience and stressed interfaith harmony in Pakistan.
While thanking Jane Marriott for hosting a wonderful iftar dinner Chief Guest AzamNazeerTarar said, “Pakistan is proud of its rich cultural and religious traditions, seeing freedom of belief and interfaith harmony as key to our democracy. I’m excited to join the interfaith iftar by the British High Commission, uniting leaders of different faiths, and look forward to closer cooperation with the UK.”
Earlier, welcoming the esteemed guests British High Commissioner, Jane Marriott said, “Today’s interfaith Iftar was a wonderful reminder of the white in Pakistan’s flag. Pakistan is home to a rich diversity of religious communities, and breaking bread together allowed us to discuss important issues of peace and harmony.”
Chairman Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Pakistan Khateeb of Badshahi Masjid Abdul Khabeer Azad, eminent writer, poet and Secretary General of HRCP Harris Khalique, Chairman UlemaAman Committee Mufti AkeelPirzada, Member (Minority) of National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) ManzoorMasih termed this initiative of hosting ‘interfaith’ iftar dinner by the BHC quite reassuring and commended HC Jane Marriott for her faith in Pakistan’s diversity which is country’s real strength.
