Islamabad: The Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal, has urged the promotion of tolerance and understanding to counter societal divisions rooted in hate and prejudice. In a recent address in Islamabad, he emphasized initiating community dialogues to combat the misuse of religion for fueling extremism.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Iqbal highlighted the misuse of religion as a tool for division and extremism, advocating for the true spirit of Islam, which he described as a message of love, tolerance, and coexistence. He called on society to uphold these principles, noting that prejudice and hate often arise from ignorance and fear, leading to extremism that threatens peace and stability.

Iqbal outlined the Pakistani government’s efforts to tackle these challenges, including the Paigham-e-Pakistan initiative. This national narrative against extremism and hate speech has been endorsed by over eighteen hundred scholars from various schools of thought and unequivocally condemns extremism, terrorism, and the misuse of religion as un-Islamic.

The minister asserted that Paigham-e-Pakistan serves as a roadmap for fostering interfaith harmony and promoting moderation in pursuit of a peaceful society. He stressed that peace, harmony, and justice are essential for a stable and prosperous society and called for combating prejudice and hate speech to amplify the voice of moderation and foster a culture of mutual respect.