Address at the 8th International Interfaith Harmony Conference organized by Minhaj University
Delegates from 25 countries participate in the two-day global event
DG Civil Services Academy: National policy on religious tolerance benefited from Minhaj University’s conference recommendations
At the inaugural session of the 8th International Interfaith Harmony Conference, organized by Minhaj University Lahore, the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Governors , Professor Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, presented the key recommendations and stated that “Pakistan is like a bouquet of flowers comprising followers of different religions and sects. Religious tolerance promotes harmony and strengthens national unity.”
He emphasized that respecting all religions and their traditions is the need of the hour. “In Pakistan, Muslims form the majority, therefore promoting peace and harmony is their foremost responsibility. For national solidarity and social justice, religious scholars and leaders must implement the founding vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in its true spirit,” he added.
Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri remarked that sustainable peace and development cannot be achieved solely through legal reforms — it requires transforming the social mindset that fuels extremist tendencies. “Education, cultural dialogue, and social engagement are key tools to eliminate intolerance,” he asserted.
He further said that the Constitution of Pakistan upholds interfaith harmony and social justice, and the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught the protection of rights and responsibilities of minorities. “Islam calls for safeguarding the life and property of every human being, regardless of religion, color, or race,” he noted.
Commenting on the blasphemy law, Dr. Qadri stated that “This law essentially protects and honors all religions. However, procedural ambiguities must be addressed to ensure that no one can take the law into their own hands or harm others extrajudicially.” He stressed that religious scholars and representatives of different faiths play a central role in this process.
The two-day conference brings together delegates from 25 countries, focusing on peace, justice, and social harmony.
During the session, Director General of Civil Services Academy Lahore, Mr. Farhan Aziz Khawaja, said that Pakistan’s national policy on interfaith harmony and minority rights was developed with valuable input drawn from recommendations of the interfaith conferences organized by Minhaj University Lahore. He added that an entire batch of trainee civil officers from the Academy was attending today’s conference.
Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities’ Rights, Dr. Shoaib Suddle, lauded Minhaj University’s leading role in promoting interfaith dialogue and tolerance, describing it as “a model worth emulating.” He said that “national unity cannot be achieved through intolerance and extremism, as Islam provides no space for such tendencies.”
At the opening session, Vice Chancellor of Minhaj University Lahore, Prof. Dr. Sajid Mahmood Shahzad, delivered the welcome address, stating that the objective of the conference is to foster peace, human dignity, and interfaith harmony through comprehensive dialogue and strategic collaboration at the international level.
Head of the Department of Religion and Philosophy, Dr. Hermann Roborgh, introduced the conference theme.
During the ceremony, Dr. Tranjit Singh Batalia and Venerable Dr. Robert Samuel Azariah received Lifetime Achievement Awards for their outstanding services in promoting interfaith harmony. Renowned artist and Presidential Award recipient Muhammad Shafiq Farooqi was also presented with an Honorary Award.
The first day of the conference featured two panel discussions and six technical sessions, addressing key themes such as global peace, interfaith dialogue, justice, social stability, and mutual respect.
Prominent participants included Dr. Joseph Varghese (USA), Amjad Muhammad Saleem (Sri Lanka), Dr. Reham Abu Sinha (Australia), Registrar Prof. Dr. Khurram Shahzad, Director Public Relations Minhaj-ul-Quran International Shahzad Rasool, Director Interfaith Relations Sohail Raza, along with faculty members and a large number of students from various departments of Minhaj University.
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