Washington DC, 29 April 2022 (TDI): Pakistan Embassy in the US hosted an Interfaith Iftar Dinner. Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Masood Khan, stated on the occasion that Pakistan is a country that values religious freedom and interfaith peace.

According to a news statement issued today from Washington DC, he stated, “Ours is a pluralist society, and we promote respect for diversity.”

The Ambassador was speaking during an ecumenical Iftar dinner hosted by the Pakistani Embassy, which included participants and speakers from the Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist faiths.

The gathering was attended by a large number of State Department and National Security Council personnel, Congressional staff, think tank members, and prominent Pakistani-Americans.

Ambassador Rashad Hussain, the United States Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, was the keynote speaker.

Fasting, according to Ambassador Masood Khan, is practiced in all religions in some form or another and encourages sacrifice, discipline, fortitude, and empathy for the poor.

“Ramadan acts as a tremendous leveler.” “All people, rich and poor, privileged and underprivileged, hunger and thirst for bodily and spiritual cleansing,” he remarked.

Pakistan, according to the Ambassador, is working to build a democratic society in which all citizens have equal rights and no discrimination.

The topics of peace, religious unity, and respect for human rights were highlighted by Father Dan Rooney, Dr. Talib M. Shareef, Rabbi Lustig, Bhante Upartana, Lee Bachu, and  Jasvinder Singh.

Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision for religious freedom, the protection of all minorities’ rights, and a polity built on the values of equality and tolerance for all was hailed by the US Ambassador for Religious Freedom.

Dr. Akbar S. Ahmad, a well-known anthropologist, and author referenced the Prophet’s final letter to the Monks of Mount Sinai, in which he supported the protection of minorities rights, particularly Christians, in a Muslim state.

Ambassador Masood Khan stated that Pakistan is attempting to encourage inter-civilizational discourse as well as inter-religious and inter-denominational harmony in order to lay the foundations for a world moving toward peace, security, and prosperity.

“Let this century be remembered for promoting harmony among followers of different faiths and reducing confrontation,” he added. The Pakistan Embassy hosts an annual interfaith Iftar event, which is well-received by people of all faiths.

Participants at this year’s event described the Pakistan event as unique in nature in Washington DC, bringing forth a feeling of universality and harmony among people of many religions. They were all overjoyed that they were able to break bread and fast together.

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