Mr. Asher Nazir Executive Secretary Peace Center Lahore received Ambassador of Peace Award,2023 from Social Welfare Department Government of Punjab, Pakistan

On 11 August,2023 in the Secretariat of Social Welfare and Bait -ul- Maal Punjab organized National Minority Day,2023 with the people of different religions inLahore and across the country with the aim to highlight their religious and socio-economic rights.

Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad grand Imam of Badshahi Mosque of Lahore was the chief guest of the event by the department of Social Welfare Punjab.
The declaration to mark National Minorities Day was adopted as part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to help and secure those belonging to religious, linguistic, national or ethnic minority groups. Pakistan being the Islamic state and its Constitution guarantees the rights of minorities as white colour in our flag also represents the minorities. The purpose of observing the Day is to highlight the message of Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who had pronounced equal rights to all citizens of Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan declared 11 August as the National Minority Day in 2009. It has always been the endeavour of the government to safeguard the fundamental rights,

safety, security, honor, life, liberty and prosperity of minorities in line with the historic speech of the founder of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah at the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947. Mr. Mudassar Riaz Malik Directorate General Social Welfare & Bait-ul-Mall Director General Social Welfare Government of Punjab shared in his views nonetheless the National Minorities Day not only expresses gratitude for the contributions, made by these religious communities, but also professes that future development of Pakistan hinges crucially on their efforts.

Mr. Mudassar Riaz Malik presented the Ambassador of Peace Award 2023 among the prominent interfaith leaders from different religions in the event of National Minority Day,2023.

Mr. Mudassar Riaz Malik presented Ambassador of Peace Award 2023 to Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw, OFM, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, Mufti Ashiq Hussian, Pandit Baghat Lal Khokar, Mr. Samuel Payara, Maulana Asim Makhdoom, Sardar Janam Sing and Mr. Asher Nazir.

The Social Welfare Department observed National Minorities Day (11 Aug) in which representatives and scholars of Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity and other religions participated. The event was aimed at acknowledging and honouring the pivotal role minorities play in the development of Pakistan. Director General Social Welfare Punjab Muddassir Riaz Malik was the host of the event. Social Welfare Department Punjab organized this event in Social Welfare Training Institute Lahore. Secretary Social Welfare Punjab Zahoor Hussain graced the participants with his presence. On this occasion, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, Archbishop Lahore Sebastian Francis Shaw, Bishop Nadeem Kamran, Sardar Bishan Singh, Pandit Bhagat Lal, Mr. Samuel Payara, Maulana Asim Makhdoom, Mr. Asher Nazir and other religious leaders emphasized the importance of inter-faith harmony and national unity in their heartfelt speeches.

Reported by:
Asher Nazir