LAHOREÂ Â -Â Â Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Noorul Haq Qadri has said that opening of any Mandar (temple) or Grurdwara does not harm the ideological foundations of Pakistan.Â
He was speaking at the launching ceremony of a book on historical Gurdwaras and a website on Karatarpur Corridor, held at a local hotel, here on Friday. He said that the decision to launch the Kartarpur Corridor to facilitate the Sikh community was a historical step by the incumbent government despite worsening situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIJ&K).
He said that the Sikh culture was an asset of Punjab.
The federal minister said that the event was a step forward in the journey of giving respect to minorities in the country.Â
Condemning the recent Motorway incident, he said that such an incident in a society should not be connected with religion, adding that spreading religious hatred on such issues was not in favour of religion or the country. He said that minorities enjoyed an independent, friendly and peaceful atmosphere in Pakistan, whereas Muslims were facing the worst kind of behaviour in the neighbouring country India, and Kashmiris were being punished for being Muslims.
The minister said that the website and the book on gurdwaras would be helpful in promoting religious tourism in the country and it would also show the world that how many gurdwaras and temples were situated in Pakistan.
Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Dr Amir Ahmad, in his speech, said that tourists could get information before coming to Pakistan through the website and it would also be a door to Pakistan for the world.Â
He said that copies of the book would also be available at all Pakistani embassies and consulates across the world, which would also be sent to the embassies and consulates of other countries in Islamabad.
Condemning the recent Motorway incident, he said that such an incident in a society should not be connected with religion, adding that spreading religious hatred on such issues was not in favour of religion or the country. He said that minorities enjoyed an independent, friendly and peaceful atmosphere in Pakistan, whereas Muslims were facing the worst kind of behaviour in the neighbouring country India, and Kashmiris were being punished for being Muslims.
The minister said that the website and the book on Gurdwaras would be helpful in promoting religious tourism in the country and it would also show the world that how many Gurdwaras and temples were situated in Pakistan.
Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Dr Amir Ahmad, in his speech, said that tourists could get information before coming to Pakistan through the website and it would also be a door to Pakistan for the world.Â
He said that copies of the book would also be available at all Pakistani embassies and consulates across the world, which would also be sent to the embassies and consulates of other countries in Islamabad.
Later, Minister Noorul Haq Qadri inaugurated the book on historical Gurdwaras and website on Kartarpur Corridor. Â Earlier, a documentary on Gurdwaras situated in Pakistan was also shown. Â Federal Parliamentary Secretary Aftab Jehangir, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Pardhan Sardar Satwant Singh and others also spoke.