ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said on Wednesday that there is an inseparable link between the role of religions and peace and development as no society can flourish without the foundations of harmony, justice and mutual respect.
Addressing the inaugural session of an international seminar here, Mr. Ahsan said, “This relationship is of global importance, especially for Pakistan, as it helps to bridge divides, promote inclusion, and promote sustainable and equitable development. Collective efforts are necessary to pave the way.” Organized by the Institute of Policy Studies, the one-day event titled “The Role of Religions in Promoting Peace, Harmony and Justice” brought together international and local speakers, scholars, religious leaders, policy makers, and Civil society gathered to talk about religion. The role of change in addressing humanity’s key challenges.
It was a joint effort involving Allama Iqbal Open University, National University of Modern Languages (Islamabad), University of Management and Technology (Lahore), Gift University (Gujranwala), Islamic Foundation (UK) and Markfield Institute of Higher Education. Education included. (United Kingdom).
Minister Ahsan highlighted the enduring wisdom of religious traditions, emphasizing their universal principles of human dignity, non-violence and compassion. Highlighting the teachings of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, he said that these shared values are the basis of harmonious and progressive societies.
The minister, however, expressed concern over growing intolerance and hatred, which, he said, fueled extremism and hindered harmony and inclusion. He stressed the importance of promoting a narrative based on tolerance. IPS Chairman Khalid Rehman stressed the decisive role of human behavior in shaping the influence of religion, saying that religions are not inherently divisive. Their impact depends on how they are practiced and interpreted.
It highlights how religion is often misused to incite violence and exclusion, obscuring its core values of compassion and justice. “Clashes are often not caused by inherent differences but by mismanagement of diversity, personality clashes and competing group interests,” he said. Rehman emphasized the need for comprehensive strategies to resolve conflicts, bridge divisions and address socio-economic disparities, stressing that humanity’s strength lies in its diversity.
Dr. Tamara Sohn of Georgetown University, Washington, DC, highlights the paradoxical role of religion in conflict, noting its unparalleled ability to resolve conflicts often seen at their center. He warned against religious nationalism, calling it manipulative and destabilizing, and urged societies to embrace the universal values of justice, humanity and equality.
Emphasizing the importance of values over identity, he said, “It is not the beliefs we are born into but the values we hold that define a person’s worth.” Dr. Son advocated interfaith cooperation through “dialogue of action” to address common challenges. Scholar and IPS Founder and Patron-in-Chief Professor Khurshid Ahmed emphasized the role of religion in fulfilling spiritual needs and termed it as a fundamental need throughout history.
He warned that the departure of modern civilization from religion is a cause of injustice, oppression and discord. “As humanity struggles with materialism, nationalism, and colonialism, religious communities must promote harmony through moral appeal rather than coercion, offering moral guidance to meet today’s challenges,” he said. ” Professor Khurshid highlighted the principles of Islam as promoting development, justice and harmony.