The Intercultural Workshop in Lahore and Islamabad, which was funded by a Gingko Encounter Grant, convened scholars, religious leaders, and academics from a variety of traditions to engage in discussions, workshops, and institutional visits that were designed to promote religious harmony, theological collaboration, and interfaith dialogue. This initiative, which was co-led by Abdul Basit Zafar and Elena Dini, established a multi-religious space for meaningful exchanges between Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Bahá'í, and Kalasha representatives, as well as students and faculty from master's and PhD programs in religious studies.
The encounter week emphasized the transformative potential of collaboration intellectual, self-contemplation, and theological dialogue in promoting interfaith cooperation and peace. The National Rahmatul lil Aalameen Wa Khatamun Nabiyyin Authority (Nrkna) hosted the multi-religious session, where a keynote lecture took place. Elena Dini underscored the importance of respecting theological dialogue in fostering global unity. On the other hand, Abdul Basit Zafar talked about how important it is to find inner peace through deep reflection. He reflected on Sirah literature to show how silence and gaps in recorded events can be used to have an open dialogue. He emphasizes the importance of self-introspection in the cultivation of empathy, humility, and understanding, all of which are essential for reading Sirah. The session concluded with a Q&A session, during which scholars, students, and
religious leaders discussed the role of religious institutions in promoting peace and contemporary theological debates.
This session was covered by the Dawn newspaper, which underscored its national importance in fostering interfaith dialogue and cooperation.
During this visit, Abdul Basit Zafar presented copies of The Other Prophet: Jesus in the Qur'an, a work coauthored by Prof. Dr. Klaus von Stosch and Prof. Dr. Mouhanad Khorchide, to the Forman Christian College University Library.
Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi, the chairman of the Islamic Ideological Council (IIC), received another copy.
The third copy was presented to His Excellency, the Apostolic Nuncio, at the Diplomatic Office of the Holy See, who expressed a personal interest in CTSI's efforts to promote interfaith dialogue.
The Intercultural encounter in Lahore and Islamabad illustrated that interfaith dialogue, academic engagement, and mutual respect can serve as a bridge between disparate groups, providing scholars and students with the motivation to pursue collaborative research and fortified networks.
“Events like these serve as crucial steps in building a society where mutual respect and peaceful coexistence prevail.” – Dawn Newspaper, February 15, 2025"