As minorities of Pakistan, we are facing many issues as discrimination, force marriages, force conversion, religious terrorism and religiously motivated violence, blasphemy laws and with it we have not equal rights in Pakistan.
Ms. Masterson Anne Country Director Norwegian Church Aid NCA Pakistan visited Peace Center Lahore on 15 November,2023. Fr. James Channan OP Director Peace Center Mr. Asher Nazir Executive Secretary and Madam Neelum Nisari Program Manager Peace Center warmly welcomed to Ms. Masterson Anne and Mr. Imran Munir Program Manager of NCA Pakistan. Fr. James Channan OP said that I am very happy that you come to the Peace Center to know how with the people of different religions we are working for the promotion of peace and interfaith harmony. With great pleasure I want to share with you that Peace has good reputation at national and international level and we have strong connections with the people of different religions as Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and Sikh and with it we are working with many interfaith organizations, universities, colleges, lawyers, and Government of Pakistan at federal and provincial level.
This Peace Center is built by the Dominican Order, Pakistan and it was inaugurated by His Eminence, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President PCID, on 28th November, 2010 during his visit to Pakistan. That time I was the Prior Vice Provincial of the Ibn-e-Mariam, Dominican Order, Pakistan. He said that the building of the Peace Center was completed with the generous grants of MISSIO and other donors. In our Peace Center we organize conferences, seminars, training and workshops mainly to promote harmony and peace among the believers of different religions in Pakistan but our special focus is between Christians and Muslims. As minorities of Pakistan, we are facing many issues as discrimination, forced marriages, forced conversion, blasphemy law and with it we have no equal rights in Pakistan. In Pakistan we have three education systems: English medium, Urdu medium and Madrasah education system. Most students of Muslim religious education system do not want to accept people of other religions because they dislike other religions. We have to work with these students and their teachers if we want peace and interfaith harmony in our society because in many incidents, we have observed religious violence.
Fr. James Channan OP shared that our focus is also on Christian Faith Formation for Christian youth, parents and families. It is of prime importance to know about the truths of our Christian faith and dogmas as we live among the country of Muslim majority. We also organize special seminars and workshops to discuss the issues of forced conversions, forced marriages, misuse of blasphemy laws and other discriminatory laws in Pakistan. We discuss how to counter religious terrorism and religiously motivated violence such as in the Jaranwala incident. He shared that at times of natural calamities for example COVID-19 and floods Peace Center helped hundreds of families and offered them relief goods, warm clothes, food items and hygiene kits.
We publish books here and annual “A Theological Journal” and we regularly update our website www.peacecenter.org.pk . Peace Center has earned a good name and reputation both in Pakistan and around the globe for carrying our very important and much needed apostolate of the Catholic Church as well as of the Dominican Order to promote dialogue among religions and cultures and thus promote culture of peace, justice, reconciliation and healing. Christian – Muslim dialogue is very challenging in Pakistan and we are confronted with a lot of radicalism. But we will keep on playing our imperative to promote respect and love among all the people of different religions.
Masterson Anne appreciated the services of Peace Center and She congratulated to Fr. James Channan OP for his wonderful work of dialogue between different religions in Pakistan. She said that I know that peace Cetner has good image and reputation among the people of different religions and through Peace Center people of different religions are connecting and they are promoting peace and interfaith harmony among the religions in Pakistan. She said that I am working as Country Director of NCA Pakistan and Mr. Imran Munir is program Coordinator of NCA Pakistan and this is my second visit to the Peace Center. I want that as partners NCA Pakistan and Peace Center worked together in Pakistan on peacebuilding, minority protection issues, Gender based violence.
She said that NCA’S Program Framework 2020-2030 is guided by the organisation’s global strategy, Faith in Action, and contributes to reaching ambitions mapped out in the Sustainable Development Goals as well as the national strategies and plans in the countries NCA and its partners operate. It also responds to the priorities in ACT Alliance’s 2019-2026 global strategy and is informed by lessons and results from NCA’s previous framework periods. Everything NCA does is built on the framework, and the ten-year timeframe ensures organisational commitment and predictability for NCA’s partners.
The six thematic areas included in the Programme Framework are Gender-based violence, Climate Resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Peacebuilding, Faith based Climate Action, Climate Smart Economic Empowerment and Fighting Inequality. The range of these reflects the varying needs of the rights-holders and civil society where NCA and partners operate, and the in-house expertise NCA has built up over the past years. Each thematic area also holds a different but equal level of importance in the contexts NCA works. Strengthening civil society is mainstreamed throughout NCA’s Programme Framework as six cross-cutting goals designed to capture and give direction to the organisation’s diverse partnership approach. Now NCA Pakistan works in Singh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
NCA delivers results through its holistic approach as a development, humanitarian and advocacy actor. Preparedness and resilience are included in long-term development programmes and protracted crises, transition to early recovery strengthened in humanitarian responses, and structural inhibitors to just solutions addressed. In line with the 2030 Agenda, NCA will adopt the principle of ‘leaving no one behind’.
The framework will also increase synergies between thematic areas through integrated programming by promoting co-localisation of interventions in the same geographical area. Working with faith-based actors and strengthening civil society have also been included as a strategic priority for the whole organisation. How NCA partners, and with whom NCA coordinates and collaborates, is detailed in NCA’s Partnership Policy.
Violent conflict is surging after decades of relative decline, and it is estimated that by 2030, over half of the world’s poor will be living in countries affected by high levels of violence. Drawing on experience from working on peacebuilding since 2007, trends and documented good practice in the peacebuilding field, and NCA’s global strategy, the programme contributes to building inclusive, cohesive and peaceful societies.
Reported by:
Asher Nazir
Executive Secretary
Peace Center Lahore
