Pakistan a leading advocate of interfaith dialogue: Mamnoon
* At an Iftar dinner for diplomats, president says country is committed to peace both within and beyond borders
APP

ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain on Monday said that Pakistan has been a leading advocate of inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue to overcome mistrust and promote understanding and cooperation among various religions and civilisations of the world.

He emphasised that Pakistan would continue to further promote such initiatives. He made these remarks while addressing an Iftar dinner he hosted in the honour of ambassadors and diplomats at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

The president said that Islam is a religion of peace and “we are strongly committed to peace, both within the country and beyond our borders”. He highlighted that Pakistan in its quest for peace had borne significant losses, reiterating that struggle for peace would continue till it is attained. He appreciated law enforcement agencies’ invaluable efforts and sacrifices for bringing peace in the country

He said that the month of Ramazan was not an individual experience adding that it was a time to strengthen and deepen family and communal ties as well as the bonds of association and togetherness. “Ramazan represents sacrifice, patience, tolerance, generosity, and above all peace. These are the values shared by peoples of all faiths,” he added. He prayed that “we may get all benefits from the moral and spiritual gifts of Ramazan and derive strength from each other to promote peace, harmony and prosperity in the world”.

Ambassadors and diplomats, among others, from Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan and Lebanon attended the Iftar dinner.

Ambassadors and diplomats from Libya, Maldives, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Philippine, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Somalia, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunis, Turkey, Ukraine, Britain, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen were also present on the occasion.

A delegation from the European Union and representatives from the United Nations and Cyprus also attended the Iftar dinner.

Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, and Iqbal Zafar Jhagra were also present on the occasion.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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