ASIA/PAKISTAN - Young people promote interreligious peace and harmony, for a future of justice

Wednesday, 28 February 2018 youth peace dialogue religious minorities ethnic minorities justice civil society human rights

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Karachi (Agenzia Fides) - "Young people are aware of their role and their contribution to strengthening communion, peace and harmony among young people of different religions in the nation": this is what Vishal Anand tells Agenzia Fides with regards to the outcome of the "Minority Youth Summit 2018", organized in recent days in Karachi, in the Pakistani Province of Sindh, by the Khadmeen Sindh Foundation and the Pakistan Hindu Youth Council. Over 400 young Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Baha'is and Muslims attended and actively participated in various activities, speeches, sessions and workshops.
Kashif Anthony, coordinator of the Catholic Commission for "Justice and Peace" in Karachi, told Fides: "It is a marvelous effort to unite young people and encourage them to play their vital role in building peace and interreligious harmony in the country especially in the province of Sindh. Interreligious peace and harmony are the urgency of the time we live in. If young people believe and commit themselves to these values, the future is bright, and we will gradually be able to eradicate discrimination and intolerance from our society".
Simon Naveed Gill, a young Christian and well-known human rights activist, was awarded the best recognition for his active role in promoting human rights in the city of Karachi.
Speaking to Fides, he said: "Young people are called to commit themselves to human rights and justice and must pray for those who allow themselves to be carried away by radicalism and terrorism: who knows what happened in their lives that led them to join fundamentalist groups and terrorists".
Kailash Kumar Sarhadi, representative of the Sikh community and director of the NGO "Masterpeace Pakistan", one of the speakers on the theme of interreligious harmony, says: "It is urgent to motivate young people of different religions, ethnic groups and cultures. Young people represent 67% of the population. We can make a huge change if we guide them on the right path". And he continues: "In the main cities of Pakistan we are working to promote interreligious peace and harmony.The situation is still to be improved in rural areas and in villages. We need a common commitment to eliminate the mentality of hatred and intolerance".
Javed Nayab Laghari, president of the Peoples Youth Organization (youth wing of the Pakistan Peoples Party) appreciated the efforts of the organizers, ensuring its support for such events. (AG) (Agenzia Fides, 28/2/2018)