International Religious Freedom
IRF Peace Builders Forum Pakistan
Advancing freedom of religion or belief and standing with communities facing religious intolerance and persecution.
Freedom of Religion or Belief
I-LAP works to promote understanding, respect and peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths. Through advocacy, awareness, dialogue and engagement, we work towards a society where every individual can practice their faith freely and with dignity.
Freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental human right and an essential foundation for peaceful and inclusive communities.
International Religious Freedom
Advancing freedom of religion or belief and standing with communities facing religious intolerance and persecution.
International Religious Freedom–Peace Builders Forum Pakistan
I-LAP officially launched the International Religious Freedom–Peace Builders Forum Pakistan (IRF-PBF Pakistan) in Islamabad on August 12, 2026.
I-LAP Launches International Religious Freedom–Peace Builders Forum Pakistan
Islamabad, August 12, 2026: The Interfaith League Against Poverty (I-LAP), an international Christian nonprofit organization committed to promoting human rights, interfaith harmony, religious freedom, peace, and equality based on our common humanity, officially launched the International Religious Freedom–Peace Builders Forum Pakistan (IRF-PBF Pakistan) in Islamabad.
The Forum was launched in connection with Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day.
The Launch
International Religious Freedom–Peace Builders Forum Pakistan · August 2026
Leaders and voices at the launch
The inauguration featured distinguished guest speakers whose messages and participation contributed to the launch of the International Religious Freedom–Peace Builders Forum Pakistan.
Panel Discussions
The launch featured panel discussions bringing together representatives from diverse religious, civil society, academic, and professional backgrounds.
Faith & Civil Society Panel
Faith, Civil Society, Academia & Media brought together diverse voices for dialogue around religious freedom, peace and inclusion.
Academia & Media Panel
Representatives from academia, media and professional backgrounds contributed their perspectives to the discussion on religious freedom and peaceful coexistence.
Faith & Civil Society Panel:
Zafarullah Khan; Ghulam Murtaza; Asia Ashraf;
Rev. Samson Sohail; Shagufa Jamal; Muhammad Israr Madani;
Augustin Jacob.
Academia & Media Panel:
Dr. Aftab Ahmed; Dr. Majid Khan; Khawaja Mazhar Iqbal;
Dr. Irum Khan; Usman Ahmed; Najia Ayub.
From discussion to practical action.
Following extensive discussion, participants expressed broad support for the establishment of the International Religious Freedom–Peace Builders Forum Pakistan and endorsed the following principles and commitments.
Religious Freedom Is a Right for Every Citizen
Participants affirmed that religious freedom should never be viewed as a privilege granted to one community. It is a fundamental right belonging to every citizen.
Strengthening Constitutional Guarantees
Participants recognized that the Constitution of Pakistan, particularly Article 20, provides important constitutional guarantees concerning religious freedom.
Building a Culture of Peace and Inclusion
The Forum’s vision goes beyond addressing discrimination. It seeks to help build a culture of respect, responsibility, dialogue, freedom, mutual understanding, and peaceful coexistence.
Reaching Communities Across Pakistan
The Forum resolved to work toward expanding the initiative beyond Islamabad and eventually reaching communities across all provinces of Pakistan.
Building Bridges, Not Walls
At the heart of the initiative is a shared commitment to cooperation, dialogue, religious freedom, interfaith harmony and peaceful coexistence.
Featured Media Coverage
The launch of the IRF Peace Builders Forum Pakistan received coverage in The News and We News English USA.
I-LAP Launches Religious Freedom Peace Builders Forum Pakistan
The newspaper cutting above is from The News. The soft version of this coverage is available online through The News.
Read Online — The News →Peace Forum Launched in Pakistan to Advance Religious Freedom and Interfaith Harmony
A separate soft-copy news version is also available from We News English USA.
Read Online — We News English USA →Building on Years of Engagement
The International Religious Freedom–Peace Builders Forum Pakistan builds on I-LAP's earlier engagement around religious freedom, interfaith dialogue, advocacy and peaceful coexistence in Pakistan and internationally.
Current Challenges to Religious Freedom in Pakistan
Sajid Sandhu, President, Interfaith League Against Poverty-US (I-LAP), was invited as guest speaker at the conference on “Religious Freedom, Minority Rights and Human Rights in India, Pakistan, China and the United States,” held at Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Virginia.
In his presentation, Sajid Sandhu offered a balanced perspective on the current challenges to religious freedom in Pakistan, recognizing progress while highlighting the continuing gap between constitutional guarantees and their implementation.
- Constitutional guarantees and their implementation
- Political reforms and stronger implementation mechanisms
- Greater engagement with parliamentarians and religious leaders
- Inclusive governance and minority participation in decision-making
International Religious Freedom (IRF) Pakistan
Pakistan Interfaith League took up the challenge to initiate and lead the IRF Roundtable in Pakistan after participating in the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, 2019.
The initiative brought together parliamentarians, lawmakers, government functionaries, civil society representatives, human rights activists, faith leaders, journalists, lawyers, academia, corporate heads and members of the diplomatic community.
The IRF Roundtable Pakistan aimed to address religious intolerance, discrimination and persecution through dialogue, joint advocacy and lobbying.
Consultative meetings to advance religious harmony in Pakistan were held in August, September and October 2019.
International Religious Freedom (IRF) USA
The IRF Roundtable is an informal group of individuals from non-governmental organizations who gather regularly to discuss International Religious Freedom issues on a non-attribution basis.
The Roundtable provides a safe space where participants can speak freely, share ideas and information, and propose joint advocacy actions addressing specific IRF issues and problems.
Participants engage with governments, civil society leaders and multilateral institutions to coordinate joint advocacy efforts and advance religious freedom around the world.
Building Peace. Strengthening Freedom.
Through the International Religious Freedom–Peace Builders Forum Pakistan, I-LAP seeks to build trust, strengthen relationships, promote religious freedom and interfaith harmony, and contribute to a more peaceful, inclusive, just and prosperous Pakistan.