LAHORE: A well-attended event was held at the Australia Mosque located near the railway station in connection with centenary celebrations of the mosque on Thursday.
A mosque in Lahore with a remarkable connection to Australia at its centenary celebration brought together families, artists, community leaders and Australians to celebrate a century of people-to-people ties between Australia and Lahore.
The Australia Mosque, established in 1926, is at the centre of a unique story of faith, family, enterprise and migration, connecting the two countries across generations. It was built by Khawaja Muhammad Bux who had built a fortune after moving to Australia in the last quarter of the 19th century.
Australian High Commissioner in Pakistan Timothy Kane said the centenary was a reminder that the deep connections between our peoples had begun long before Australia and Pakistan established formal diplomatic relations in 1948.
‘When we talk about the relationship between Australia and Pakistan, we often talk about government-to-government engagement. But this 100-year-old mosque reminds us that our relationship is ultimately about people people who travelled, including proud Aboriginal Australians, built families, practised their faith and created communities across both countries.
The centenary will also highlight the continuing contribution of Muslim and Pakistani communities to Australia’s multicultural society, including Australians travelling to Lahore to take part in the celebrations.
Ayesha Bux, descendant of the family behind the mosque’s founding story and founder of SalamFest, said: ‘Australia Mosque is more than 100 years of bricks and mortar. It is a living story of families, faith and friendship between Australia and Pakistan and a story that deserves to be carried into the next generation.
The event featured prominent Pakistani figures including Dr Amjad Saqib, Dr Abdul Bari Khan, Salima Hashmi and Faryal Gohar, alongside Australian and Australian-Pakistani participants, including Ayman Islam of the Centre for Muslim Wellbeing, Victoria and Hellen Kibowen of the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA).
The centenary program featured reflections on heritage, service, art and community, alongside stories connecting Lahore with Australia and an intergenerational celebration of the mosque’s legacy.