LAHORE: An `Interfaith Harmony Dialogue` was organised on Sunday by the Presbyterian EducationBoardatthePresbyterian Church of Lahore.

The event hosted by Rev Dr Majeed Abel, was attended by Chairman of Pakistan Ulema Council Maulana Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, Chairman of Roet-e-Hilal Committee Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, Khatib of Data Darbar Maulana Ramzan Sialvi, Chairman of Kul-Masalik Board Maulana Asim Makhdoom, Maulana Zubair Abid, Prof Mehmood Ghaznavi, Prof Sohail Raza, Head of Presbyterian Education Board Mrs Vida Javed, Ms Margie Trammell, Ms Sheryl Burke and Rev Emmanuel Khokhar.

The participants discussed promotion of religious tolerance in the country, and challenges being faced in the way, expressing their resolve to work for the purpose.

Hafiz Ashrafi, who is also special assistant to the prime minister, said inter-faith harmony is the basis of development and prosperity of the country, while all religions give themessage of peace and love.

He strongly condemned the Israeli atrocities in Gaza, resulting in martyrdom of more than 3,500 children, and praised the role of the Christian doctors of Al-Shifa Hospital who were serving in Gaza.

Lauding the services of the Presbyterian Education Board in the field of education, he said the role of the Christian community in education and health sectors would always be remembered.

Rev Dr Majeed Abel said 60 percent of the students in the Board-run educational institutions are from the Muslim community. He said Christian educational institutions have rendered remarkable services and produced many great names.

He expressed joy on the completion of 25 years of the Presbyterian education institutions.

Maulana Azad lauded the services of Dr Abel for interfaith harmony. He regretted the Jaranwala violence, and said everyone condemned it and took joint steps to protect humanity.

Maulana Asim Makhdoom said educating the Muslim children in Christian institutions is an expression of trust between the communities. He welcomed the plan of open-ing a school by the Board in Jaranwala and assured his full support for the initiative.

Allama Sialvi said peace and tolerance could be established in society only on the basis of education.

Ms Margie Trammell said the Presbyterian Church will continue to provide outreach services as it has done in the past.

Ms Sheryl Burke said the Christians have been rendering educational services for several decades and many big names have been produced by their institutions.

Ms Javed said the Board was ensuring provision of good quality specialeducationin the villages across Punjab.

Maulana Zubair Ahmed stressed the need for spreading message of peace in the whole world, including Palestine.

The members of the delegation of the Presbyterian Education Board expressed their resolve to continue education as a mission for the prosperity of Pakistan.

At the end of the dialogue, a special prayer was offered for the development and prosperity of the country and for a peaceful solution to the Palestine issue.