International Day of Peace, 2024

Peace Center Lahore organized International Day of Peace on 21 September,2024 at Pak Aarab Housing Scheme, Ferozepur Road Lahore, Pakistan. The theme was Cultivating a Culture of Peace by the United Nations for the year of 2024. More than 100 people participated in this program from different religions as Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs. Mr. Asher Nazir warmly welcomed to all honorable guests with great joy. The program began with interfaith prayers from Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and interfaith prayers offered for love and harmony among the people of different religions. After the interfaith prayers all eminent honorable guest requested to come forward for beaming the peace candle to glow the throughout event.

It was absolutely fabulous celebration of the UN International Day of Peace on the theme of “Cultivating a Culture of Peace” with over 100, Muslims, Christians, Hindus and Sikhs at our Dominican’s Peace Center in Lahore. As honourable guest Allama Muhammad Zubair Abid, Allam Badar Munir, Mufti Ashiq Hussain, Fr. Akhtar Naveed OP, Pandit Baghat Lal Khokar, Pastor Amjad Nimat, Dr. Marcus Fida, Sardar Sikandar Singh, Advocate Ishtiaq Chaudhry, Pastor Samuel Massi, Dr. Kanwal Feroze, Ch Zubair Farooq Ahmad, Dr. Abdul Ghafar Randhawa, Mr. Samuel Payara, Fr. Lazar Aslam. All interfaith leaders pledged that as people of different religions we should live with peace and harmony and we should promote love and respect to others because love to others is the teaching of all religions.

Mr. Asher Nazir Executive Secretary Peace Center invited to Fr. James Channan OP for the welcome note and introduction of the theme “Cultivating a Culture of Peace” of International Day of Peace by United Nations.  Fr. James Channan OP Director Peace Center said that all the Nations in the World need Peace and Love and United Nations want that the people of all nations and all religions should live with peace and love and we should give respect to other. As people of Peace and promoter of peace and interfaith harmony we should be good example of Peace. Today we are celebrating International Day of Peace according to the theme by United Nations and every year Peace Center celebrate this international day with the people of different religions which are working for peace and promoting peace and interfaith harmony among the religions. This year we are celebrating   international day with the theme of “Cultivating a Culture of Peace” by United Nations.

Today I am happy to see that a big number of people from different religions are participating in this event and this is very beautiful celebration of the International Day of Peace and Golden Jubilee of my Religious Life celebrated at Peace Center in Lahore. Several Muslim, Christian and Hindu prominent religious leaders, promoters of peace and interfaith harmony, Lawyers, and representatives of Civil Society are present in our Peace Center. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace.  In that declaration, the United Nations’ most inclusive body recognized that peace “not only is the absence of conflict, but also requires a positive, dynamic participatory process where dialogue is encouraged and conflicts are solved in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation.” In a world with rising geopolitical tensions and protracted conflicts, there has never been a better time to remember how the UN General Assembly came together in 1999 to lay out the values needed for a culture of peace. These include: respect for life, human rights and fundamental freedoms; the promotion of non-violence through education, dialogue and cooperation; commitment to peaceful settlement of conflicts; and adherence to freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, cooperation, pluralism, cultural diversity, dialogue and understanding at all levels of society and among nations.

The Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) starts with the notion that “wars begin in the minds of men so it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed”. It is this notion that framed the theme and logo of this year’s observance of the International Day of Peace. The ideas of peace, the culture of peace, need to be cultivated in the minds of children and communities through formal and informal education, across countries and generations. The International Day of Peace has always been a time to lay down weapons and observe ceasefires. But it now must also be a time for people to see each other’s humanity. Our survival as a global community depends on that. Rev. Yuel Bhatti, and Members of A Better Community For All Canada Pakistan honored with Shields to Fr. James Channan OP, Madam Neelam Nisari, Fr. Pascal Palus OP and Mr. Ashar Nazir for 50 Years of Glorious Excellence and Garlanded with Garland to all honorable Guest. This was Mega Event of the International Day of Peace. Rev. Yuel Bhatti, Nasreen Chaman Aqeel Khan, Pastor Samuel Message, Mr. & Mrs. Razia Burq & Mufti Syed Ashiq Hussain presented these shields on the behalf of Rev. Yuel Bhatti President A Better Community for All Canada and Pakistan & Yes Peace Promoters Pakistan. 

Rev. Yuel Bhatti, and Members of A Better Community For All Canada Pakistan presented Shield to Fr. James Channan OP at completing his 50 Years of Religious life with Glorious Excellence.

With it the team members of A Better Community for All presented shields to Madam Neelam Nisari, Fr. Pascal Palus OP and Mr. Ashar Nazir in recognition of their valuable services promoting Interfaith harmony and Peace among the people of different religions in Pakistan.

Nasreen Chaman, Aqeel Khan, Pastor Samuel Messi, Mr. & Mrs. Razia Burq & Mufti Syed Ashiq Hussain Garlanded with Garland to all honorable Guest. This was Mega Event of the International Day of Peace. presented these shields on the behalf of Rev. Yuel Bhatti President A Better Community for All Canada and Pakistan & Yes Peace Promoters Pakistan. Mr. Asher Nazir thanked to Rev. Yuel Bhatti and his team members for these wonderful appreciations on the International of Peace Day at Peace Center Lahore, Pakistan.

Reported by:
Asher Nazir