Lahore: A special Zoom conference was organized by A Better Community for All Canada and Yes Peace Promoters Pakistan to promote global interfaith harmony and peace.
The conference was hosted by renowned religious and social leader Reverend Yuel Bhatti, bringing together religious scholars, leaders, and social activists from around the world. The theme of the event, “Love of Neighbor, Love of God,” echoed the message of human compassion and religious tolerance.
At the outset, Reverend Yuel Bhatti highlighted the significance of the event, emphasizing its crucial role in fostering global peace and harmony, particularly in observance of World Interfaith Harmony Week 2025. He underscored the urgent need to cultivate an atmosphere of love, tolerance, and mutual respect among followers of different faiths.
Pakistani scholar Nasreen spoke on the importance of interfaith harmony, stating that it teaches us to respect one another’s beliefs in order to eradicate religious intolerance and extremism. She provided a brief history of World Interfaith Harmony Week, noting that it was initiated in 2010 by King Abdullah II of Jordan, with the aim of spreading the message of religious harmony and love on a global scale.
Prominent religious scholar Everest John cited the Holy Bible, stressing the need to understand the true essence of “neighbor.” He stated that loving one’s neighbor is, in essence, an expression of love for God.
From India, Mili Das shared her thoughts through a beautiful poem, which was highly appreciated by the participants. Her poetry vividly highlighted the importance of love, unity, and brotherhood in society.
Dr. John Mukhta from Congo shed light on the ongoing conflict in his country and appealed to the international community to step up efforts for peace and provide both financial and moral support to the war-torn nation.
Pakistani speaker Agustina Joseph expressed her delight at seeing people from diverse faiths come together to discuss peace and coexistence. She stressed the need to respect each other’s beliefs and promote love and fraternity among communities.
Young speaker Aleena Randhawa also shared her thoughts and made an emotional appeal to all participants to continue their efforts for peace. Her innocent yet impactful speech left a lasting impression on the audience.
Shahid Akhtar emphasized the importance of involving the youth in this mission, stating that if the younger generation is engaged in the cause of peace, the dream of a harmonious world can soon become a reality.
Father William Basharat, recently appointed as the Interfaith Harmony Chairman of Lahore Cantt Tehsil, stated that he has been actively working for peace for the past 15 years and is ready to extend his services wherever needed.
Hindu religious leader Bhagat Lal Khokhar stressed that true peace cannot be established until hatred is removed from our hearts and anger from our eyes. He called for the widespread promotion of patience and tolerance.
Father James Channan pointed out the alarming trend of religious intolerance in some countries, warning that this is an extremely dangerous phenomenon. He emphasized the necessity of promoting religious freedom and acceptance, urging collective efforts for global peace.
Dr. Badr Munir praised the theme of the event, stating that it conveys a profound and impactful message. He shared that he has been organizing similar programs in Pakistan to further this cause.
As the conference concluded, Reverend Yuel Bhatti extended heartfelt gratitude to all participants and reaffirmed his commitment to continuing efforts for interfaith harmony and global peace. He expressed hope that this event would serve as a milestone in fostering love, fraternity, and interfaith understanding.
This conference not only became a platform for promoting unity and coexistence among diverse faith communities but also emphasized the urgent need for serious and practical efforts toward global peace.
