ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi conferred Hilal-e-Pakistan on Secretary General of Muslim World League Dr Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa in recognition of his services to Pakistan in different fields at a special investiture ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Award was conferred in recognition of his services in strengthening brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, for being an instrument for award of scholarships to Pakistani students in educational institutions and higher learning in Saudi Arabia. Later, Dr Muhammad bin Abdul Karim and his delegation called upon President. Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Mufti Abdul Shakoor, Ambassador of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Nawaf bin Saeed Al Malki also attended meeting.

President termed “Islamophobia” one of biggest challenges being faced by Muslims and urged need to allay fears of world regarding Islam. He said that Islam advocated for peace, solidarity and harmony among people of world and people from different nations needed to be educated about true message of Islam.

He said that Islamophobia needed to be countered and eliminated through peaceful and harmonious actions in Islamic world. He underlined the need to hold inter-faith conferences, dialogues and meetings to exchange ideas with religious scholars and leaders of other religions to explain real message of Islam. He expressed his concern over increasing trend of Islamophobia in India, adding that Islamophobia in India was deep-rooted and being patronised at state level. He urged need for taking concrete actions to provide relief to Muslims of India from negative impacts of Islamophobia.

He urged Muslim World League to consider initiating scholarships for students of Shariah, Islamic Studies as well as scientific and technical disciplines. Dr Alvi appreciated implementation of his idea communicated to Ambassador of Saudi Arabia in Pakistan to set up an Islamic Museum in Pakistan. President thanked Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for providing valuable support to Pakistan to help overcome its most pressing financial needs and for providing generous help to alleviate sufferings of flood victims. Dr Muhammad Bin Abdul Karim appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in raising its voice against Islamophobia at all world forums, including United Nations, which had declared March 15 as ‘International Day against Islamophobia’.

He said that Pakistani scholars and civil society were deeply concerned with increasing trend of Islamophobia and were playing an active and effective role to showcase peaceful and true face of Pakistan to rest of world.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 11 2022

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