The Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion at the Lahore International Book Fair 2025 held its first seminar under the title “Celebrating the International Day of Human Fraternity: The Importance and Role of the Document on Human Fraternity in Promoting Interfaith Harmony.” The seminar featured participation from Prof. Dr. Saeed Ahmad Saeedi, Head of the Department of Islamic Studies at the University of Punjab, Lahore; Reverend Nadeem Kamran, the tenth Bishop of Lahore in the Anglican Church of Pakistan; Prof. Dr. Kalyan Singh, Professor of Punjabi Language at the Government College University, Lahore; and Mr. Arun Kumar, Coordinator of the Pakistan Hindu Council. The seminar was moderated by Dr. Mudassir, Head of the Department of Islamic Studies at Lahore College.
The discussion offered a holistic view of the critical role of fostering dialogue and tolerance among different religious groups, underscoring the need to integrate the principles of the Document on Human Fraternity into everyday practices to further global peace and stability.
Aroon Kumar, the Coordinator of the Pakistan Hindu Council, emphasized at the beginning of the seminar that all religions advocate for peaceful coexistence and respect for diversity. He pointed out that unity and human fraternity are solutions to global challenges such as climate change, extremism, poverty, and pandemics.
On his part, Bishop Nadeem Kamran expressed gratitude to the Muslim Council of Elders for providing an opportunity for representatives of different faiths to come together at the same table. He highlighted the crucial role of religious leaders in promoting values of coexistence and mutual respect. He stressed the need to disseminate the concept of human fraternity in all forums and to make every day a day of human fraternity. Without acceptance and respect for others, the aspired human fraternity cannot be achieved. He noted that the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by two global religious figures in Abu Dhabi in 2019 came at a time when the world desperately needs peace and security.
Prof. Dr. Kalyan Singh highlighted that the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Pope Francis in the UAE was a “gift to the world.” He emphasized that spreading the culture of human fraternity is key to ensuring a safe and stable future for generations to come. He also pointed out that the Indian subcontinent serves as a model of religious and cultural diversity, where different faiths and civilizations have coexisted peacefully for centuries.
Concluding the seminar, Prof. Dr. Saeed Ahmad Saeedi spoke about the significance of Islamic values in promoting human fraternity. He noted that Islam emphasizes the unity of humanity, interfaith coexistence, and the shared lineage of all people as descendants of Adam (peace be upon him). Citing the Charter of Medina as an early example of religious pluralism and peaceful coexistence between Muslims and non-Muslims, he stressed that achieving human fraternity requires respect for human dignity, adopting a compassionate and dialogue-based discourse, and fostering communication and understanding among followers of different religions and cultures.
The Muslim Council of Elders is participating for the first time in the 2025 Lahore International Book Fair, taking place from February 5 to 9. The Council’s pavilion is located in Hall 1, Pavilion R1-6 at Expo Centre Lahore.