ISLAMABAD, Sept 19: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has called for stepped up efforts to bridge the widening gap between different faiths. Speaking to a visiting delegation of monks and intellectuals from Sri Lanka here at the Prime Minister’s House on Tuesday, he called upon religious leaders, scholars and intellectuals to come forward and remove the misperceptions and misunderstandings to promote interfaith harmony in the world.

The prime minister said Islam propagates peace, harmony, tolerance and compassion.

The constitution of Pakistan safeguards equal rights to minorities and in Pakistan people belonging to all faiths are free to follow their religion. He said minorities were well integrated in the society and exercise the right to vote twice both for the minorities and the general seats in the country’s legislatures.

He said parts of Pakistan were the cradle of Buddhist civilization and the government has paid special attention on maintaining, protecting and preserving Buddhist sites, adding that the preservation of the rich Buddhist heritage in Pakistan was a living proof of Islam’s tolerant attitude towards other faiths.

He said Pakistan and Sri Lanka were bound in close historical and cultural ties, share common values and the two countries were working for peace and prosperity in the region.

Mr Aziz said Sri Lanka was an important member of SAARC, which provides an effective platform for regional cooperation.

He appreciated the impressive gains achieved by Sri Lanka in the field of education.

He said the two countries can learn a lot from each other’s experiences.

The members of the delegation said Pakistan and Sri Lanka enjoyed cordial relations and the political and diplomatic relationship between the two countries was based on a deep understanding of each other’s policies.

They commended the Pakistan government for preserving the Buddhist heritage and said the sustained efforts made by Pakistan to preserve the Buddhist culture, civilization and monuments were a manifestation of the government’s commitment for interfaith and intercultural harmony.

They expressed deep gratitude on behalf of the people and the government of Sri Lanka for taking excellent care of the Buddhist sites. They also thanked the people and government of Pakistan for extending prompt assistance to Sri Lanka to overcome the losses caused by the tsunami.

The meeting was attended among others by Minister of State for Minorities Affairs Prof Mushtaq Victor, High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Pakistan Gen C. S. Weerasooriya and senior officials.