Faith Matters and Christian Study Centre urge for a Joint Initiative to Improve Inter-faith Relations in Pakistan

Faith Matters Pakistan and the Christian Study Centre affirmed strong commitment to improve inter-faith harmony in Pakistan. Faith Matters’ team members recently met with Dr. Christine Amjad Ali, the director of the Christian Study Centre in Rawalpindi, Pakistan and discussed the contemporary relationships amongst various faith communities living in Pakistan. Dr. Christine highly appreciated Faith Matters’ initiative that aims to bridge social gaps, between young members of both Muslim and Christian communities living in Pakistan, through inter-faith dialogue sessions and cultural events. She also stressed the importance of addressing the trust deficit between Muslim and Christian community members in Pakistan through moderate dialogue as well as concrete actions. Both organisations urged to unite all the faith communities in Pakistan, in particular Muslim and Christian communities, in order to build better relationships amongst them for the peace and prosperity of Pakistan.

Promoting a democratic culture in Pakistan

On Saturday 7^th January 2012, Faith Matters’ team met with Secretary Information of PML (Q), Mr. Chaudhry Akram to discuss how civil society and main stream political parties in Pakistan can work together to promote democratic norms and values in the country.

Faith Matters’ commitment to reduce extremism, promote interfaith harmony and to engage the youth of Pakistan for a better democratic system was highly appreciated by Mr. Chaudhry Akram and he ensured that PML (Q)’s youth forum will participate and support in this invaluable struggle to strengthen the fabric of civil society and the democratic culture in Pakistan. While commenting on the innovative methods used by Faith Matters for social causes, Mr. Chaudhry Akram said: ‘Pakistan is a young country with a vast majority of young people living here. Faith Matters’ approach to engage this segment of society through their SMS and social media network is the right thing and at the right time in Pakistan.’

Faith Matters has engaged more than seven million people in Pakistan through mobile SMS technology for its anti-extremism work and is committed to engage the youth of Pakistan innovatively for social causes. Faith Matters’ Project Manager, Rehman Anwer  said: ‘After receiving an overwhelming response from the people of Pakistan for our SMS based project, Pegham (Message), we are extremely interested in joining forces with the youth and government institutions to promote human rights and democracy in Pakistan.’