A delegation of faith leaders, scholars, and community stalwarts led by Jannah Scott, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of American Center for Religious Freedom (ACRF) visited the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C. The visit was a part of interfaith engagement by the Embassy of Pakistan with a view to promoting togetherness and harmony. The delegation included Dr. Chaplain Gordon from Pray in Jesus’ Name Organization, Mr. Adnan Khan, Founding Board Chairman of ACRF, Peggy Bilsten, Board Vice Chair at ACRF, Nicole Sterling, VP and Chief Relations Officer of The Sterling Foundation and Sophia Otasowie, Director of Programs at Olive Consulting International. In his opening remarks, Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh highlighted the genesis of Pakistan as a land with a history of respecting humanity and faiths across civilizations. “Throughout our history, we have been a tolerant people with respect for faiths and the ways of life demonstrated across millennia. Our flag serves as a testament, reflecting minorities in its white color,” stated the ambassador. Referring to the importance of co-existence and dialogue, Ambassador Sheikh underscored the significance of diplomacy in resolving conflicts, including religious discord. “We need to come together and work together. Just coming together removes good part of doubts and pre conceived misgivings. Pakistan as a nation-state never shied away from engagement seeking solutions to global issues”, said the Ambassador. “Our priority is to build future identities based on commonalities not differences”, he added. Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Jannah Scott expressed her appreciation to Ambassador Rizwan Saeed for hosting at the embassy and initiating engagement. She suggested collaborating with the Embassy of Pakistan to foster peace and harmony among diverse faiths. The delegation also informed the Ambassador about the proposal to hold a “Pakistan Peace and Harmony Gathering, 2025” in Karachi aimed at promoting unity and harmony among Pakistan’s diverse religious communities. The ambassador assured support of the Embassy towards translating the proposition into reality. In conclusion, Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh expressed sincere gratitude to the delegation for visiting the embassy sharing optimism with regard to sustained engagement.
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