Uniting hearts, building peace: grassroots interfaith harmony in Pakistan
The Peace Center Lahore unites Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs, where people share iftars, perform joint celebrations, and carry out relief efforts during floods for a peace that requires concrete action, not just talk, understanding, not just the absence of conflict. The project puts forward a different Pakistan with communities that listen to one another, where friendships grow, and young people lead the change.
Lahore (AsiaNews) – In a country often portrayed through the lens of division and conflict, a small community initiative in Lahore is offering a different story: one of dialogue, friendship, and peace across religious lines.
At the Peace Center Lahore, where I serve as executive secretary, we have embraced a simple but powerful principle: peace begins with relationships. Our initiative, Bridging Hearts, Building Peace, brings together Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs to break bread, share experiences, and stand in solidarity during times of hardship.
Meals that heal divides
In Pakistan, hospitality carries deep meaning. That is why one of our first initiatives was hosting interfaith Iftar dinners, where Muslim families welcomed Christian and Hindu neighbours to join them during Ramadan. These gatherings, filled with laughter and storytelling, shifted mindsets: “We discovered we had more in common than we thought,” shared one participant.
Similarly, during Christmas, Muslim friends visited local churches to join in celebrations. These symbolic actions transformed into real friendships that continued beyond religious festivals.
Youth as bridge-builders
Young people are at the heart of our work. Pakistan’s future rests in the hands of a generation that can either inherit divisions or lead toward unity. Through youth leadership trainings, we empower young men and women to become ambassadors of peace.
In one memorable session, a Sikh student shared how, for the first time, he felt truly heard in a mixed-faith group. “I always thought my community was invisible,” he said. “But today, I feel we belong.” Moments like this show how dialogue can reshape identities and build mutual respect.
Solidarity in crisis
Our vision of peace is not limited to dialogue alone – it also means standing together in times of suffering. When floods devastated Punjab, we mobilized volunteers from different faiths to deliver food and medical aid. The sight of a Christian youth carrying supplies to a Muslim village, or a Hindu volunteer helping rebuild homes, became a living testimony: peace is not just words, it is action.
Building on global connections
The Peace Center is not alone. We are part of global networks such as the United Religions Initiative (URI) and HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), which inspire us to link local action with international solidarity.
Through these connections, our message reaches beyond Pakistan: that grassroots interfaith efforts in South Asia can enrich and strengthen the global movement for peace.
A different story of Pakistan
Too often, Pakistan is seen only through headlines of extremism or violence. Yet the daily reality is far richer. In our communities, neighbours look after one another, women lead grassroots initiatives, and youth dream of a peaceful future.
Our work at the Peace Center is just one thread in a much larger fabric of hope. By sharing meals, training youth, and standing together in times of crisis, we show that peace is not a distant dream – it is being built quietly, faithfully, in homes and communities across Pakistan.
Looking forward
The journey is not easy. Prejudice still exists, and interfaith work often faces suspicion. But we continue because we have seen lives change, friendships grow, and walls come down.
Our hope is that initiatives like Bridging Hearts, Building Peace can inspire others in Asia and beyond. As I often remind my team: peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of understanding, compassion, and courage.
In Pakistan, every handshake across a faith line, every shared meal, and every act of solidarity becomes a small miracle – and together, these miracles are shaping a different tomorrow.
* Executive Secretary Peace Center Lahore, Pakistan and URI CC Coordinator, COPE Pakistan
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23/05/2019 11:55
