Interfaith and religious harmony is essential to bring about “guaranteed long-term peace and stability” in Pakistan, senior faith leaders said at a peace conference organised by the Diocese of Peshawar. Bishop Humphrey Peters, who has since been elected as the new Primate and Moderator of the Church of Pakistan, convened the meeting which brought together leaders of minority faiths, including Christians, Hindus and Sikhs, with leaders of the majority Muslim faith.

Guest speakers included the acting Inspector General of Police for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district, Akhtar Ali Shah; and the former vice-chancellor of the University of Swabi, Ms Noor Jahan.

“All the religious leaders in their speeches and messages emphasised on interfaith and religious harmony for a guaranteed long-term peace and stability in the region,” the Diocese of Peshawar’s Frontier News reported. “They said that only religious harmony can ensure a culture of brotherhood which is the basic element of Stability, Peace and Development.”

Bishop Humphreys highlighted interfaith achievements and praised those who had been working to promote peace in a region which has been the repeated target of extremist and terrorist groups. The initiative was supported by the German branch of the international Christian development charity World Vision.

Bishop Humphrey Peters with participants at the Diocese of Peshawar’s inter-faith peace event.
Photo: Frontier News / Diocese of Peshawar